KATIE BOLKA
APRIL 21, 1989 – JUNE 4, 2006

Katie’s story is one of promises; promise lost, a promise kept and a promise made that must be honored.

Katherine (Katie) Patricia Bolka was born on April 21,1989 in Dallas, Texas. She was blessed with beauty, talent, intelligence and a tenaciousness that served her, her family and friends very well.

Katie commanded attention. Whether she was acting on the stage, articulating her point of view, commiserating with her sister, creating humor in situations and reacting with her huge laugh or her just being in your presence, you were aware that she was a force to be reckoned with. Her talents were numerous; she was a new age renaissance woman. Katie at 17 showed a depth of feeling and knowledge that translated to her acting, her writing and most of all into her artwork. Her paintings and drawings capture the soul of the subject or model through a use of varied and sophisticated techniques. Bold use of color, layering of paint, unusual perspective and Katie’s spirit emanate from her canvases.

On the morning of May 30, 2006, Katie was on her way to Ursuline Academy of Dallas to take her final math exam. Her successful junior year was about to end and she was excited about her summer plans, her senior year at Ursuline, choosing a college, her family summer vacation, and discovering more about herself through her art and coming of age in the 2000’s. Katie was the second or third car to go through an intersection that morning just a few blocks from school after waiting for a green light. A 90 year old woman disregarded the traffic light that had been red for nearly 24 seconds and proceeded through the intersection without braking and struck Katie’s car on the driver side door. The elderly driver was traveling at approximately 45 miles per hour (10 miles per hour over the speed limit) causing fatal injuries to Katie.

Although Katie fought valiantly to live, her struggle ended on June 4, 2006. All promise lost, not to be realized.

Katie had decided on her 16th birthday to be an organ donor. We, as grieving parents, and Nina, her beloved sister and best friend realized that this was a prophetic wish of Katie’s that needed to be fulfilled. Katie saved three lives with her bold decision. A promise kept.

Katie’s story does not end here, nor will it ever end. She will always be beloved, remembered and mourned for. Her legacy is in our hearts, in her art, in her writings and even more tangibly in the lives of the three very fortunate souls she saved and the endowment fund that has been established in her name at Ursuline Academy. Yet, there is still a promise that must be honored. We promised that we would work for legislation that would help insure the safety of elderly drivers and the public so that a tragedy, like Katie’s, will not be realized by another family, friends or loved ones. Please work with us to see that this promise is fulfilled!