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Linda Bolte Whitlock, Guy Willard Bolte, Marion Stewart Bolte, Linda Whitlock Raynor of Waterford, Connecticut USA
submitted by her parents and daughters

Linda was 3 when her mother, Marion (called Mary) Stuart Bolte, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. For the next 7 1/2 years, Mary was in and out of the hospital every six months for operations and radiation treatments which made her very sick. Mary died May 27, 1934 at the age of 46—Linda was 11. Linda’s father, Guy (Pappy) Willard Bolte, was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1945 just as Linda was leaving Greenwich to join the Red Cross during WWII. Guy’s cancer metastasized to the kidneys, and he died in September of 1947. Linda’s first bout with breast cancer occurred in 1985. After a radical mastectomy, she lived cancer-free until in 1995 she developed cancer in the second breast. She underwent a second radical mastectomy, and is again cancer-free. Linda’s brother, Charles Guy Bolte, and half brother, Alan Bolte, both survived prostate cancer, though Chuck died of throat cancer and other complications in 1994. In 1996, Linda’s daughter, Rhoda Whitlock Canter was diagnosed with breast cancer. She too had a radical mastectomy and then chemotherapy, and is now cancer-free. In February 2003, Linda’s daughter Linda (Lindsie) Whitlock Raynor was diagnosed with breast cancer. She has returned to teaching autistic children following a successful radical mastectomy in March of this year and will not need chemotherapy.

Linda’s favorite memories of her mother are the times her mother came home. She particularly remembers the drives to NYC, always with a coconut cake, to pick her mother up and bring her home. When Mary came home, so did Linda, who otherwise stayed with friends. Linda learned from her mother’s nurse that Mary kept herself alive, because Linda was too young for her to leave.

Linda remembers her father at her wedding to Victor Whitlock, Jr. April 8, 1946, and his pleasure in meeting his granddaughter born just after Christmas that year. Some of the family believed Guy had won his battle over cancer in 1946, which added to the celebration.

For Linda’s 80th birthday, one month after Lindsie’s successful mastectomy, the family gathered to celebrate Linda with the theme, "Life begins at 80." The party will have many events and will last the full year. The best gift is the one she has given us, her family: her extraordinary courage in confronting and success in surviving cancer.

There are many difficult cancer moments: fear, pain, anger, self-pity, helplessness, questioning God. Linda has showed us how to find courage for every fear, steadiness in pain, growth in anger, humor in self-pity, strength to overcome helplessness, and the grace of faith. She has triumphed twice and changed the family attitude. Her seven grandchildren now know from genetic testing that Linda did not have the ‘cancer gene,’ so they are also free of it. And if the disease comes again, we know how to do battle and win.

Linda retired as Dean of the Faculty at the Williams School in New London, CT, following a lengthy career dedicated to teaching. She spends time now travelling the world, volunteering for the American Cancer Society, writing, reading, singing, gardening, enjoying family and friends and her bichon frise, Vincit.The Bolte, Whitlock and Canter families send to the cyclists very best wishes for an awesome experience on the ride, and deepest appreciation for your commitment to conquer cancer.

Current Status: Cancer-free since 1995.