Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. Arleen Ng staff 6/17/00 Tribune CueLy DeBolt of Berkeley has a talk with her adoptive father Robert, 69, at Temescal Park in Oakland during their family reunion. I begged service clubs to let me speak. They were even the subject of an Academy Award-winning 1977 documentary, Who Are the DeBolts, and Where Did They Get 19 Kids? Bob DeBolt also was named Father of the Year by The Fathers Day/Mothers Day Council Inc. in 1981. They have a folder of material on themselves and a list of suggested speech topics: "Love, Laughter, and Twenty Kids," "From Burn-Out to Bonfire," "Parenting in the '80s," "Society Says 'Handicapped' -- We Say 'Challenged.' 28, 1972, Dorothy DeBolt dies at 89; adoption advocate raised 20 children, By REBECCA TROUNSON, LOS ANGELES TIMES MARCH 12, 2013 12 AM PT. She answered and a child said: Mom, this is Jennifer. "We have a terrible time looking at things as problems," she says. Last night, there was an award. Vernon, where she visited on many. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. DeBolt went on to serve in the Air Force, ultimately retiring as a lieutenant. Is the vulgar anti-Tesla sign on my neighbors truck illegal? I really hated to hear the phone ring -- I thought it was Jean with another body. Actually, only seven of those 20 live in the DeBolt home in Piedmont, Calif., near San Francisco. IRS delays tax deadline for Bay Area, but California hasnt followed: What should you do? Please enter your email and password to sign in. They began by adopting unwanted children -- those left in hospitals or shuttled through foster homes. They watch it on weekends. Please reset your password. Our website services, content and products are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. "When she first came, everyone stared. New Details On 14-Year-Old Kansas Cheerleader Murdered By Adam Longoria, Woman And Four Kids Killed By Husband; Weeks Later He Was Found Driving Around With Her Body In Van, Rapper Baby Soulja Charged With Murder What We Know, Longoria was sentenced to serve life in prison, Groom Invites His Nephews To His Wedding But Excludes Brother's Stepdaughter Her Mom Is Debating Whether To Attend, What Jon Hamm Says Changed His Mind About Marriage After Swearing It Off During His 18-Year Relationship With Jennifer Westfeldt, Man Insists Landlords Should Get Tipped By Tenants If They're Going To Tip Baristas, How Did Dr. Amie Hardwick Die? "We took out the television set about seven years ago -- that's what caused friction and arguing," said Dorothy DeBolt. Want to know more? DeBolt's story is featured on the Investigation Discovery showWeb of LiesIn an episode called "Be Right Back. She was making $775 a month. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. We have set your language to She was never seen alive again. Two months later, with nine children, she met Robert DeBolt. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. She went darting around the house, cupping the chins of her brothers and sisters and laughing out loud for the sheer joy of seeing for the first time, Dorothy DeBolt said in a 1988 Times interview. No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. My head said, 'No.' Drew Carey's Ex-Fianc Allegedly Murdered By Ex-Boyfriend In Hollywood Hills. Three Bay Area men, including justice reform activist, plead guilty in Norteo RICO murder case, Californias hardest to book campground isnt in a famous park. One child they adopted together was J.R. -- 10 years old, wheelchair-bound, blind, 40 pounds overweight from having been treated as a vegetable and stuffed with food in one temporary home after another. He and my mom were passionate about making the world a better place for children in foster care, Doni DeBolt said. Along with her husband, Dorothy DeBolts survivors include her children, Mike, Mimi, Stephanie, Noel, Kim, Marty, Melanie, Doni, Ly, Dat, Trang, Phong, Tich, Anh, Reynaldo, Sunee, Karen and Wendy, 27 grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and her brother, Art Nortier. Five children are from Dorothy DeBolt's previous marriage. Angel Song Rock, First Transistor, how did twe' debolt die. I said, 'What?!' Then she asked me to take a friend of hers to a Christmas party they were having. Bob DeBolt said Monday that his wife was moved to adopt partly by her faith Thank you, God was posted about the house although she was not overly religious. Police found DeBolt's body after employees at an asphalt plant noticed what they thought was a burned mannequin surrounded by flies. And the local school system, the DeBolts say, supported what they were doing from the start. The couple, who founded an Oakland-based nonprofit adoption agency for special needs children, taught their own to be self-reliant and to live independently. pic.twitter.com/JisVuiFndO, kansasdotcom (@kansasdotcom) March 6, 2015. based on information from your browser. She invited me over to her house for sweet tea and to tell me about the DeBolt family. Drew Carey's Ex-Fianc Allegedly Murdered By Ex-Boyfriend In Hollywood Hills. She is survived also by five sisters and two brothers, namely: Mrs. C. D, Martin of Ankenytown,Mrs. My stomach said, 'yes.' It was the Vietnam war and I had these Amerasian children." ", Dorothy DeBolt already had given birth to five children and adopted two Amerasian children when her first husband, an insurance broker, died. While serving, he married his first wife, Audre Kellogg, in 1958, a union that produced Doni. See additional information. ", "We believe deeply in God," she says. The night of August 21, DeBolt and Longoria exchanged a series of text messages, including one where she gave him her address. I was so boy crazy, so moody. He is 51. The phone rang one day as the busy mother raced around her home, getting ready for an out-of-town trip and wrapping up housework before her kids got home. Try again later. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. It has placed 3,500 children in California and thousands more through its affiliates around the country. The youngest child was 3 at the time. PIEDMONT Robert Bob Wesley DeBolt and his late wife, Dorothy, made it their mission in life to help as many children as they possibly could, whether as biological parents, stepparents or adoptive parents, as their nationally renowned family ultimately grew to 20 children. 2023byTango Publishing Corporation All Rights Reserved. ". Why would you do such a dumb thing?' The blended family grew, with each new child learning to contribute to the household and support the others. And Where Did They Get 19 Kids?, which won an Academy Award and was narrated and produced by actor Henry Winkler. Dorothy DeBolt and her first husband, Ted Atwood, had five children in the 1950s when they adopted two Amerasian boys who were products of the Korean War. There was an error deleting this problem. Then I began speaking to clubs with budgets -- interfamily relations, parenting, a career and mothering. Failed to delete memorial. Drag images here or select from your computer for Susannah Evangeline Susie Leedy DeBolt memorial. Aside from his passion for helping children, those who knew Bob DeBolt recalled his love for green chiles. She was 89 and had been in poor health for several years, her husband, Bob DeBolt, said Monday. Susie DoBolt, wife of B C. DeBolt, died at her home near Palmyra Monday noon of a complication of diabetes. The DeBolts later adopted their 20th child, Reynaldo, a Mexican street kid with a paralyzed leg who was part of a sequel. Verify and try again. Try again later. for fun and is not collecting any money for this site. Dorothy DeBolt died in 2013 at 89. . Dorothy and Bob Debolt with grandmother ad children: Mike, 29, Michelle, 28, Stephanie, 26, Noel, 24, Martin, 23, Tich, 22, Ahn, 22, Dat, 21, Trang, 18, Doni, 17, Melanie, 17, Lee, 17, Twe, 16, John Robert (J.R.) 13, Thong, 11, Karen, 10, Sunee, 10, and Wendy, 9, in October of 1977. I might have been 35 when I took a close look at myself. To that end, they founded Adopt A Special Kid (AASK), which in 2015 became part of Lilliput Childrens Services. Search above to list available cemeteries. "I'm ungainfully employed." "She was a doll," he says. The door opened, he later recalled, and here was this mass of little people, along with his stylish, mini-skirted date. There are no babysitters, and a cleaning woman comes only occasionally. "If we had a lot of problems, we wouldn't do it. ", RELATED: How Did Dr. Amie Hardwick Die? They were married in 1970. Jean said to me, 'Ted says he thinks she might be too much for you.' Her mother, from Sweden, and her father, from the Netherlands, owned several Bay Area restaurants. This account has been disabled. . She was nominated by their 22-year-old daughter, Doni, who joined the growing family when her father and Dorothy were married. My father was an incredibly warm, caring individual with a sense of humor that no one else rivaled, said his daughter, Doni DeBolt, currently the director of outreach and communications for Lilliput Childrens Services and previously executive director for AASK. We felt the need to say 'Hey, God, thank you, we're lucky.' All had something that made them difficult to be adopted. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. When she found out that he was talking to a much younger girl, she told him to "take care of the problem." After the DeBolts were married, they moved into the Piedmont house, with Robert bringing his 10-year-old-daughter, Doni. Bob DeBolt, who moved to Oakland in 1967, relocated with Dorothy to Piedmont in 1970 and then with Dorothy to El Cajon in 1987. The DeBolts also encouraged other adults to adopt children, especially those with special needs. Sorry! Her mother, Tammy Conrad, even shared that she had been told she could never have children but still managed to concieve DeBolt, calling her a "miracle baby.". Among his other achievements and accolades, Bob DeBolt served as a board member for the National Council on Adoption in Washington, D.C., and the North American Council on Adoptable Children. Born on Aug. 19, 1931 in Amarillo, Texas, Robert Wesley DeBolt went on to graduate from the University of New Mexico in 1955 with a degree in civil engineering. "These children can come from some of the damnedest backgrounds, and they can adjust.". DeBolt, whose family became the subject of two films, including an Oscar-winning documentary, died of cardiac arrest at her El Cajon home. Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. Nicole Pomarico is an entertainment and lifestyle writer whose work has appeared in Cosmo, Us Weekly, Refinery29, and more. But now, he's so motivated he's driving us crazy." "Jean called and said, 'I know you don't ordinarily do this, but I'd love you to meet this guy. She ended up welcoming the DeBolts with open arms and her husband, a dentist, got his practice and other neighbors around them to help set up the children with dental benefits. One saw his parents killed in a bombing, and some were wounded in war. In 2010, 14-year-old DeBolt was killed by a much older man she'd been texting and seeing at parties, Adam Longoria, and fortunately, he's since been brought to justice, although the lives of everyone who loved DeBolt will obviously never be the same. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! "She adopted me. Nor did she figure out which neighbor child might have made that errant call. Theres no words to describe what he is.. SUSIE DEBOLT DIES AT PALMYRAMrs. Most of all, Bob and Dorothy made the highest use of their public speaking abilities to advocate for multiracial, single-parent and sibling-group adoptions. In the late 1960s, she was a widow with nine kids when a friend set her up on a blind date with Bob DeBolt, a civil engineer who was recently divorced and had one child. "She didn't marry me," he says. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. But I tell my kids, 'You're so much luckier than I was.' Learn more about managing a memorial . It is a large, old, three-story house. You may not upload any more photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 20 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 5 photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 30 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 15 photos to this memorial. "But we're very unritualistic. There was a problem getting your location. Every big newspaper prints obituaries every day, of course. Would dismantling Interstate 980 repair damage to Black neighborhoods? Please consult your doctor before taking any action. Resend Activation Email, Please check the I'm not a robot checkbox, If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. The man who owned the company I ran -- his wife was an avocational matchmaker . "We're not going to say we don't. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. After Atwood died in 1963, Dorothy took in two more both disabled youngsters from Vietnam. Tallahassee Democrat - Thu - Feb. 15, 1979. This devotion to children led to the founding of AASK in 1973, the first adoption agency in the country to focus on finding homes for children with special needs. "What she really fixed me up with was a sexy, intelligent woman," says Robert DeBolt. DOROTHY AND Robert DeBolt have 20 children. We've heard a lot of truly heartbreaking stories about murder, but it's always especially tragic when we find out about a child who lost their life and in this case, we're talking about thekilling of Kansas cheerleader Alicia DeBolt. ", The Cincinnati Enquirer - Fri - Apr. The largest number of children in the house at one time was 16. Just click the "Edit page" button at the bottom of the page or learn more in the Biography submission guide. Though he flirted with her, DeBolt told Longoria she only wanted to be friends, though at the timehe told her he was only 25. He would only do things like that for others. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. When Longoria was sentenced to serve life in prison without parole in 2012, he waived his right to appear, refusing to face DeBolt's family himself. . If she'd said he wanted a sexy broad, I would have said 'No way.' An email has been sent to the person who requested the photo informing them that you have fulfilled their request, There is an open photo request for this memorial. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. Some of the adopted children are paraplegic or have other physical handicaps. Mrs. DoBolt Was 55 years of age and was quite well known In Mt. . Created by a Piedmont, California resident, Meghan Bennett. A civil engineer by profession, he gave up his job as president of an Oakland construction company to help start the adoption agency and launch a full-time speaking career. subject of two films, including an Oscar-winning documentary. Later, through an investigation, they were able to determine that Longoria had raped and then killed DeBolt before pouring gas on her body and setting it on fire. Bob and Dorothy married some months later on June 5, 1970. It is a large, old, three-story house. What Happened To Alicia DeBolt? The family was featured in the 1977 documentary Who Are the DeBolts? There have been two films made about the DeBolts -- one was the Academy Award-winning "Who Are the DeBolts -- And Where Did They Get 19 Kids?" Dorothy DeBolt received the 1982 "Endow a Dream" Award from the W. Clement and Jessie V. Stone Foundation. Mrs. DoBolt Was 55 years of age and was quite well known In Mt. ", On Robert DeBolt's right hand is a large, oval turquoise ring. "She's there a few hours and her eyes glaze over," says Dorothy DeBolt. "Now, when we left home, it was 20," says Robert DeBolt straight-faced, "but it might be more.". "God knows we've had enough chances.". Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. Learn more about merges. Year should not be greater than current year. Weve updated the security on the site. She attended UC Berkeley, then became a professional pianist, joining a San Francisco combo that played boogie woogie and other popular music. Together, they found new adventures through fly fishing, hiking and traveling the world. DeBolt and 36-year-old Adam Longoria began talking after meeting at a party. I fell in love on the first date, Dorothy told The Times in 1988. On his left hand is a gold wedding band that matches his wife's. ", "But then it came full circle," she says. As embodiments of the postive mental attitude that Stone espouses, the DeBolts certainly qualify. Longoria's girlfriend, Eva Brown, told him to end their relationship. Russell DeBolt passed away on March 6, 2019 in Kalkaska, Michigan. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. Known to find good in everyone and humor . C. O. Miller of Mt. Some are blind, some have a combination of problems. With life insurance money, she put a down payment on the house in Piedmont. Movies. Many of those they adopted had physical or emotional disabilities and most though not all were from other countries. 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I remember my mother -- she's Swedish -- used to say to me, 'Doora,' " she says, mimicking her mother's Swedish accent, " 'you haf to learn to listen to God through yoor ea-hers, not through your stoo-mach.' (My parents) believed that children should be raised not in an institution but in a nurturing, lifelong loving family, Doni DeBolt said. We didn't have much money, but we had other things. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. I was on the phone with this woman, and God said, 'Okay, Dora, why don't you take them?' DeBolt's family has spoken out about the crime. Known to find good in everyone and humor in many situations, DeBolt is survived by 18 of his 20 children plus 27 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Swims like one, too.". Hes not. 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