Obituary of Richard T. Boland

Richard T. Boland Of Allison Park, PA on Thursday, September 24, 2020, age 70. Beloved husband of Linda Boland; father of Albert Boland (Sarah), Michael Boland (Liz) and Erin Dennison (Reggie); grandfather of Meghan, Emma, Ethan, Hayden, Iyla, Vanessa, Harper and Duron; son of the late James C. Boland and Mary Elizabeth Dawson; step-son of Evelyn Boland; brother of Michael Boland, James Boland, Rita Drury, Daniel Boland, Robert Boland, and Michelle Boland; also survived by many nieces and nephews. Rich grew up a farm boy in Iowa before entering the Air Force at 18, serving his country proudly in Vietnam. In the service Rich met his friend and future brother-in-law Tony, who introduced Rich to his sister Linda whom he later married in 1971. Rich was a volunteer for Wilkinsburg EMS before being hired as one of the first paramedics in the City of Pittsburgh in 1975. Rich dedicated his life to public safety as co-founder of the Pittsburgh Critical Incident Stress Team, coordinating mental health support to responders from various disasters including the crash of flights 427 in Pittsburgh and United 93 on 9/11 in Shanksville. He was an educator of emergency services at the Center for Emergency Medicine and was employed by UPMC where he helped to develop their trauma program. Rich’s passion and reputation took him to numerous national disasters. He helped counsel veterans returning from war along with countless public safety heroes who reached out to him personally. He will forever be remembered as a helper of helpers. Friends received at McCabe Bros., Inc. Funeral Home, 6214 Walnut Street, Shadyside on Tuesday, September 29, from 2:00 – 7:00 pm. Allegheny County requires masks, social distancing and a limit of 25 persons in the funeral home at one time. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held in St. Raphael Church on Wednesday, September 30 at 10:00 am. THOSE WISHING TO ATTEND, PLEASE GATHER AT THE CHURCH. Interment private. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions in Rich’s name be made to the Wounded Warrior Project (woundedwarriorproject.org). Condolences may be left at www.mccabebrothers.com