Mr Bertram Boldon

March 7, 1935 – August 5, 2023

Bertram passed away on August 5, 2023, after a four-year battle with cancer. Born to Claudina and Vernon Boldon. He is survived by his wife Violet and their two daughters Roxanne (Tim) and Abiola. He joins his brother Cyril (Marlene) and leaves to mourn his siblings Leroi, Guy, Pam (Gerry) and Marlene (Carleton), and his granddaughter Tanyta (Jonathan).

Bertram was born in Port of Spain, Trinidad, where he grew up the eldest of a close-knit family. He was a disciplined young man who lived up to the example his mother insisted he be for his younger siblings. He was a model student, athletically skilled in both cricket and track and field, and he loved music. At 18, his first job was a customs officer.

At 20, Bertram traveled to Montreal, Que. to study at McGill University. Although med school was his first choice, he found sociology to be a better fit. Upon graduating with a Masters, he became a gifted English teacher, who was loved by his students. He was involved in community awareness initiatives through his essay contributions about Black Immigrants assessment of the Sir George Williams Affair in February 1969.

He performed in the Trinidad and Tobago Pavilion during Expo 67. He was a founding member of the first steel drum orchestra in Montreal, Que. He acted in the capacity of manager and performer for the Melatones Steel Orchestra, while studying classical piano with the renowned teacher Rose Goldblatt.

In the middle of his teaching career, he took a leave of absence to study at the Berkley School of Music. Upon completion, he returned to teaching, where he added music to his curriculum - another subject to encourage his students.

Upon his retirement from teaching, he focused on creating and producing music. He allowed his creativity to flow, working with young “up and coming “musicians, encouraging them to take their craft to the next level. He was friends with and performed along side skilled entertainers such as Marius Cultier, Oliver Jones and Charlie Biddle, to name a few.

Bertram preformed locally as well as internationally where the pan and piano were equally the main thematic instruments. His goal was always to spread his passion and joy of music, but also to bring awareness to the intricate beauty and versatility of the steel drum. He played the steel drum through all genres of music and challenged his own boundaries of improvisation and self-expression.

He was an extremely generous man, who had the gift of making you feel seen and heard. He lived the life lesson his mother instilled in him “give and don’t look back.”