Passion for flying at heart of volunteer’s commitment to Air Force Museum

By Mike Morris

A Loyalist College media professor with a secret passion for flying is also known in the community for his contributions to the 8 Wing Trenton Air Force Museum.

Professor Steve Bolton has been at Loyalist since 1985, and has volunteered at the museum since 1999. At Loyalist, Bolton is a coordinator for the radio program. One wouldn’t know right away from the looks of his office that Bolton is passionate about flying and aircraft. The only aircraft memorabilia in Bolton’s office is a picture of an airplane on his wall.

At the museum he’s on the board of directors. He says he gets a lot of satisfaction as a volunteer.

“Well, I was approached by a fella who used to work here at the college, and he was a retired military officer,” Bolton says. “He was the base commander at CFB Trenton and he retired from the military, but he maintained his connections, and when they wanted to expand and get some publicity for some things they were doing, they came to me about it.”

The retired base commander Bolton describes is the late Ron Russell who died recently.

He has other reasons for volunteering at the museum, especially that he likes to fly.

“My father was in the Air Force, so I guess I’ve been in the Air Force since the day I was born,” says Bolton who enjoys flying from the passenger seat. “I like flying planes. I spent some time actually over the Christmas holidays flying acrobatically; flying upside down, doing spins and loops, and all kinds of fun stuff.”

Bolton knows many of the hundreds of volunteers at the museum. He has kind words to describe them.

“They’re all good people,” Bolton says. “A lot of them are volunteers. We have a few paid employees, but mostly volunteers, and they love what they’re doing. They take possession of the museum.”

Museum curator Dr. Georgina Stanciu has recognized Bolton for his contributions.

“During the summer time when he’s off what he calls his duties he is an active tour guide for general public visits,” Dr. Stanciu says.

Hailey Latour, also from the museum’s board of directors, echoes Bolton’s sentiments about his work.

Bolton says that he’s not the first Loyalist College professor to volunteer at the museum. Another professor, now retired, worked there.