Roland Boike is a Renaissance man. Or to put it in 21st-century terms, a gentleman beyond compare. In fact, it feels impossible to find anyone with a more impressive résumé.
In no particular order: Accomplished watercolor artist. Author of 21 books. Trampoline coach. Chiropractor. Loveland High School football team doctor. Licensed plumber. Licensed realtor. City councilman. Vice mayor. Mayor. Local hero. Korean War vet. Dance instructor. Award-winning Soak City landscaper. Veterans’ Memorial park flower bed designer. And — most notable — married to the late Lu Boike for 62 years and father of four: Cindy, Steve, Lori, and Carolyn. And that’s just the highlights, in no way a complete list of this polymath’s accolades.
Of course, behind every one of Roland’s accomplishments lies a boundless curiosity, drive, and creative spark. And perhaps, most important, the confidence and determination to follow through. It should come as no surprise that those characteristics showed up early.
Roland Vincent Boike was born in Madeira in late 1930, where he would spend his young life with his father, Dr. Stephen Boike, his mother, Ludvica Rensi Boike, and six siblings. His first experience at challenging what he saw as abuse of power came in elementary school at St. Gertrude’s.
“I needed to go to the restroom, asked permission, and the nun said, ‘No,’” he recalls. Roland went anyway. When he returned to the classroom, he remembers saying, “Sister, when you have to go, you have to go!” Likely stunned by his defiance, there were no consequences for his actions. “I didn’t do it to be rebellious, I just needed to go,” he says, shaking his head.
That ability to do what the moment called for without hesitation included a incident years later in 1964 — Roland saved three children from a submerged car at what is known today as Lake Isabella. “It kind of put me on the map,” he says, smiling.
After high school, Roland followed a few different career paths before a full-ride scholarship led him to follow in his father’s footsteps as a chiropractor, a profession he practiced in Loveland for 35 years. When Roland hears that some people refer to him as a local legend, he begins to laugh, though it’s hard to argue with the description. The walls of his study are covered with proclamations, awards, and expressions of his service and achievements. There’s also his apartment-wide gallery for his artwork. Recognitions that don’t fit on the walls are contained in albums on his desk.
Most of that “legend” talk is a result of his 14 years of public service on Loveland City Council, and included serving as vice mayor, and mayor (twice). He also helped found both the Loveland Chamber of Commerce and Community National Bank of Loveland, and spearheaded numerous other community projects.
The fact is, Roland had a direct hand in creating some of the amenities that have transformed Loveland into a desirable place to live and a regional destination for dining, entertainment, and recreation.
Case in point, in the early ’80s, at the urging of a friend, Roland ran for and was elected to City Council. His reputation as an idea man with the ability to get things done came along at just the right time.
Nisbet Park opened the same year Roland took office alongside the then-unused railroad path. He lead the Council effort to secure part of the funds needed to add lights, additional landscaping, and nearby parking.
That proved essential when the state began converting unused railroad tracks into walking and bike trails, and historic Loveland was added to the network.
Back in the early ’70s, as president of the Chamber, Roland and Chamber secretary, Doris Pfeister, led the crusade that put the city on the map as Ohio’s Love Capital, creating a special Loveland postmark that read, “There is nothing in this world as sweet as love.”
The tradition is still going strong, but the man who put it all into motion admits that his life has slowed.
At 96, Roland still has no shortage of ideas, but these days he is focused on writing. “I can’t see well enough to paint anymore,” he admits. His current work-in-progress is a thriller entitled Escaping from Alcatraz.
When Roland is asked to consider what he is most proud of, he doesn’t hesitate. “I’m a doer, and I always wanted to make my part of the world a little better.”
To that, we say, job well done, Dr. Boike. A goal accomplished that we’re all thankful for.
Many thanks to Jessica Tye of The Cocoa Muse for introducing us to Roland and inspiring us to salute this storied veteran this month. She herself has honored Roland by naming their signature drip brew after him, Boike Black.
The Legacy of Stephen Boike III
In 1981, Roland’s 22-year-old son, Stephen, was the victim of a tragic accident while driving home from an event where he’d volunteered, and passed away after a prolonged coma.
To honor Stephen’s memory in 1995, the City of Loveland created the Stephen C. Boike III Youth Athletic Park on land next to Loveland High School.
Earlier this year, the city sold the park to the school district so the land could be used for parking by students who previously had to park down the road.
Part of the park transition was moving the Joy of Youth monument dedicated to Stephen’s memory. This past September saw the rededication of this statue originally created by local artist David Camele.
“The whole idea of the monument was not about putting Steve’s name out there,” Roland says. “The feeling when we put this statue here was that everyday students will be reminded that drinking and driving does not work.”