Rolfe B. “Sonny” Voltaire

Rolfe “Sonny” Bertil Voltaire, 88, passed away peacefully on Friday, November 24, 2017.

Rolfe grew up in Malden and West Roxbury, MA, after a childhood spent partly in Sweden.  He was the eldest child of Sven Voltaire and Judith Eklund Voltaire, and the beloved foster child of Alda and Wesley Johnson of Malden, MA. He graduated from Roslindale High School and spent his entire career working for New England Telephone Company, which later became Verizon. In 1952, he married Victoria Louise (Clark) Voltaire, his wife of 58 years.

He took pride in his military service; he served in the army, stationed in Fort Dix, NJ, with a two-year tour of duty in Darmstadt, Germany, during the Korean War.

Rolfe was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather.  He spent every summer camping with his family; later he and Victoria continued to enjoy camping with the many close friends they made along the way.

He was a dedicated worker.  He started out at the phone company climbing telephone poles installing and repairing phone lines and worked his way into management; at retirement he was honored for 38 years of perfect attendance.  In addition, he ran a TV repair business and moonlighted at Sears as a security guard.  He was an active member of the Masons and Kiwanis Club and always seemed to be collecting aluminum cans for charity or working on a service project.  He was a lifelong Methodist and belonged to Stratford Street United Church.

A perfect day was spent outside doing just about anything, from pulling water skiers behind his boat, to building fences and decks with his daughter’s family in Colorado, to golfing and walking the dog.  He was always up for fun, especially with his grandchildren.

Rolfe is survived by his children, Rolfe Voltaire of Nottingham, NH; Brenda Voltaire Ripp of Medfield, MA; and Julie Voltaire Schleusener (Rick) of Fort Collins, CO.  He leaves six precious grandchildren, who were the lights of his life: Kelsey Sprowell (Andrew) – along with great granddaughter, Olivia -, Courtney, Jeff, and Christian Schleusener, and Christopher and Kerry Ripp.  He also leaves a brother, Kenneth (Janet) Benson, of Lebanon, CT, numerous nieces and nephews and his adopted cousin, Clare Chalmers of Malden, MA, and her sons Lee and David and their families.  His wife, Victoria, and his son, Robert Voltaire, predecease him.

He lived a long and full life and will be greatly missed by his family and many friends.  A funeral service will be held at Stratford Street United Church, 77 Stratford St, West Roxbury, on Tuesday, November 28th, at noon.  Interment to follow at the Gardens of Gethsemane, West Roxbury.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Stratford Street United Church, 77 Stratford Street, West Roxbury, MA 02132.