Dave Boland ’56M

‘Timing is Everything’ for Dave Boland ’56M

• The Boland Family, including Dave Boland ’56M (far left), wife Marilyn (front row, second from left) and son Ryan ’88 (far right). Among other immediate family are sons Tom (back row, second from left) and Matt ’86 (back row, far right).

Whatever he has been involved in throughout his life, Dave Boland ’56M has achieved two things: • From the bottom to the top, he’s climbed the ladder. • He’s had a front row seat.

Even well into retirement age, Mr. Boland puts in 50 hours a week for the company he helped found 25 years ago: Timing Is Everything, which handles all timing and scorekeeping responsibilities for 290 professional and college teams in 13 sports spanning seven states.

Always driven, much of that success is rooted in the Summer of 1955, when his mother reached out to a friend to help put her oldest child on a better path. Mr. Boland and his parents headed north, stopping to have a talk with Dr. George Rogers, the Head of School at Monson Academy and formerly of Mr. Boland’s hometown of Manchester, Connecticut.

“It all seemed to fit and the rest is history,” recalled Mr. Boland, a member of the basketball and soccer teams at Monson. “I felt during my stay at Monson, Dr. Rogers frequently went out of his way to check on me and offer constructive help and encouragement, almost as though a kind favor was being gendered to his hometown roots. Dr. Rogers was highly respective and fit the role of Headmaster in all respects.”

A changed person, Mr. Boland was now fully prepared to pursue his goal (since fourth grade) of becoming a teacher. Upon his graduation from Central Connecticut State University in 1960, he began his 23 years in education as a middle school teacher in Pomfret, Conn.

In the world of teaching, Dave did it all: teacher, assistant principal, principal, assistant superintendent and superintendent. He retired from education in 1983 after serving as the superintendent of schools in Brooklyn, Conn., for 10 years.

“I like the orderliness of an organized class: the needed prep and challenge offered by a dedicated teacher, and the benefit to young minds captured my fancy,” said Mr. Boland, who married his college sweetheart, Marilyn Boraski of Naugatuck, Conn., in 1961. “I couldn’t wait to get to work each day.”

Believe it or not, during that time and starting in 1960, Dave also juggled time in the military. He started in the Connecticut Army National Guard as a private and graduated two years later from the state’s Military Academy Officer Candidate School, commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army. Time as a platoon leader, instructor, executive officer, operations officer and company commander positioned him for a big jump.

In 1982, as a lieutenant colonel, he entered the National War College for a 13-month residence course, and upon his graduation remained to serve on the faculty. Retired from education and in the military fulltime in 1984 with the Connecticut National Guard, he served as executive officer, commander, command administrative officer and eventually the position of Chief of Staff in 1985, a responsibility he held until being promoted in 1992 to Assistant Adjutant General. After 36 years in the service, he retired from the military as a Brigadier General, USA, in 1997.

“The military was the most challenging learning environment available—with structure, purpose and goal orientation—I have ever experienced in life,” Mr. Boland said. “Clearly visible with military readiness in mind, I found countless opportunities presented to me that mentors believed I could achieve and transfer to all manner of life ahead.”

What was ahead was a new career. In 1996 he launched Timing Is Everything with two business partners. The company started small, with two teams in its first year. Mr. Boland and his crews currently handle nearly 300 teams, including the WNBA, minor league baseball, professional lacrosse and soccer. One TIE crew member works the scorer’s table for the Boston Celtics.

• from LEft: WMA Director of Athletics Don Nicholson ’79, Dave Boland ’56M and WMA Boys’ Prep Basketball coach Mike Mannix before a WMA basketball game at the Hoophall Classic in January.

“When playing and officiating careers come to a close, usually it is because the long enduring mental and physical challenges are beginning to show wear and tear,” Mr. Boland explained. “So what then next? The couch? Recluse from athletic competition? No way! For me it was what was next to stay involved—to participate and contribute.

“The most likeable aspects of the positions we have skill sets in are game clocks, shot clocks, scoreboards, scorebooks and video replay. They all give the greatest satisfaction of being challenged, busy and contributing to the overall welfare of the activity, and usually the best seat in the house. Never in our wildest dream did we anticipate the welcoming acceptance of our capabilities.”

And never in his wildest dreams did he think his path would lead him to reconnect with Monson Academy, which merged with Wilbraham Academy in 1971.

Timing Is Everything landed the job at the University of Connecticut in 1996 to run the scorer’s table for the men’s and women’s basketball games. Who sits at center court, right behind the scorer’s table?

“As casual time allowed, sports chatter took place (with the fans nearby),” Mr. Boland said. “Then upon receiving my (Fall 2019) WMA Academy World, I found a tribute recognizing my wonderful, social and so likeable friend who was a WMA graduation speaker and had graduated from Monson Academy. It was Mark Shenkman ’61M, whom I did not know.

“When I saw Mark at Gampel Pavilion at the start of the 2019–20 season, I said to him, ‘Mark, we’re inextricably linked by an event for life.’ His expression was one of total surprise. I said I would give him a clue: ‘Dr. George Rogers.’ Mark was joyed to hear news of our life educational happenings, and our friendship has continued to grow since.”

Two of Mr. Boland’s three children grew also—at Wilbraham & Monson Academy.

“They needed exactly what I needed: a physical and mental growth to take place prior to the collegiate experience,” Mr. Boland expressed. “Study habits, goal setting, structure for purposeful use of time, all needed fine tuning, guidance and maturity. The WMA experience was, in their mother’s opinion and mine, a significant contributor.”

Matt ’86 is a referee in the NBA, and Ryan ’88 is an attorney and vice president for Fidelity Inc. Dave’s oldest son, Tom, retired from the U.S. Army as a colonel (pilot) and is presently a senior project officer for Lockheed Martin in Israel for Blackhawk helicopters.

Dave’s resume is most impressive. He’s been inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame, as well as the Manchester Hall of Fame, and has received multiple Merit Awards from the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference. He’s also an honorary life member of the referee associations for soccer and basketball in Connecticut.

On the military end, he’s earned the Legion of Merit with cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with cluster and Army Commendation Medal with cluster, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, numerous federal and state medals, and is a member of the Connecticut National Guard Hall of Fame.

Dave said so much of his success stems from his time at Monson Academy, and specifically, the guidance from Dr. Rogers.

“Simply put, as a 17-year-old high school graduate I was little prepared, immature and lacking self-discipline or any sense of organization and purpose. Monson Academy provided the opportunity for me to catch up, receive structure in an environment to grow with guidance, and properly prepared me for undergraduate training to become a teacher.”

And so much more, all with a front row seat.

• Yearbook photo, 1956

• Dave Boland ’56M, left, at work at the NCAA Lacrosse Championships.

Hockey Night at the Thunderbirds

JANUARY 2022

More than 60 alumni, parents and staff came together on Jan. 28 to watch the Springfield Thunderbirds take on the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in American Hockey League action. WMA’s Boys’ Hockey coaches Barry Almeida and TJ Syner and former Girls’ Hockey Coach Sara Ugalde were on hand, along with Director of Athletics Don Nicholson ’79 to discuss the exciting return of hockey to WMA.

Many thanks to our four event hosts—Chris and Candy Bignell P’23, ’24, Executive Vice President of the Lehigh Valley Phantoms Chris Porreca ’90 and WMA Atlas Fund Co-Chair Mike Dolaher ’90— for their help making the night a success.

1 from LEft: Bryan Musa ’92 with daughter Claire, Mike Altobelli ’90, PJ Louis ’92, Alan Orquiola ’89, P’25, Mike Dolaher ’90 and Kevin Jennings ’90 P’21, ’23. 2 from LEft: Connor Devivo ’10, Peter Pascarelli ’10 and Nathan Lee ’10. 3 Lauren Poole ’17, left, and Giangabriel Linarez ’17. 4 Director of Athletics Don Nicholson ’79, left, and retiring History Faculty member Gary Cook. 5 Eddie Shore Jr. ’47W, right, and his son Robert Shore ’81 stand with the plaque dedicated to Eddie for his many years of service and involvement with Springfield Hockey. 6 Michelle Jacques P’26, left, and Steven Tremblay P’26. 7 from LEft: Chris Bignell P’23, ’24, Boys’ Head Coach Barry Almeida, former Girls’ Head Coach Sara Ugalde, Boys’ Assistant Coach TJ Syner and Chris Porreca ’90. 8 Mike Dolaher ’90, left, brought along his WMA Hockey jersey from 1989 to give to new coaches Barry Almeida, center, and TJ Syner. 9 The Thunderbirds won the game with a final score of 6–2 over the Phantoms. WMA mascot Titan, with Mike Dolaher ’90, warming up the crowd on the Fanboni. 10 from LEft: Alan Orquiola ’89 P’25, his wife, Holly, P’25, WMA mascot Titan, Bryan Musa ’92 and Director of Advancement Mark Aimone P’22. Musa’s daughter Claire stands in front row.

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