{"id":284026,"date":"2026-09-11T20:34:11","date_gmt":"2026-09-11T20:34:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/284026\/"},"modified":"2026-09-11T20:34:11","modified_gmt":"2026-09-11T20:34:11","slug":"bob-bolus-scranton-political-activist-philanthropist-dies-at-age-83","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/284026\/","title":{"rendered":"Bob Bolus, Scranton political activist, philanthropist, dies at age 83"},"content":{"rendered":"

Bob Bolus, a tow-truck company owner, divisive political activist and Christmas dinner philanthropist, died late Thursday night in a hospital at age 83 from an illness, a longtime friend confirmed Friday.<\/p>\n

Earlier this year, the Scranton resident suffered a stroke that sidelined him from his fairly regular attendance at weekly Scranton City Council meetings, where he often spoke during public comment periods about various local, state and national issues and politics.<\/p>\n

Bolus recovered somewhat in recent months, but over the past few weeks his health then took a serious downturn from which he did not recover, said longtime friend Doug Miller.<\/p>\n

Miller, now of Hamlin and a legislative aide for state Rep. Jeff Olsommer, R-139, Sterling Twp., who represents parts of Pike and Wayne counties, recalled how in Miller\u2019s youth he had known Bolus, and he took Miller to a Scranton council meeting. Miller later went on to become a regular attendee at council meetings, speaking during public comment and weighing in on the various issues or politics of the day.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve known Bob since I was 11 years old. He\u2019s the guy that got me into this, the political arena. He took me into my first council meeting when I was 12 years old. He was definitely an influence on me, a mentor to me back then,\u201d Miller said. \u201cI\u2019ve been around the guy for 25 years and have a lot of good memories, the campaigns, the Christmas dinners.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s got a strong legacy he leaves behind. He\u2019s done a lot for the community. That\u2019s something a lot of people will never forget.\u201d<\/p>\n

In December, Bolus reveled in hosting his 32nd Annual Bob Bolus Christmas Dinner in West Scranton, a free community turkey dinner with all the fixings. Over the years, he and dedicated volunteers have dished out thousands of Christmas Day sit-down dinners and takeouts.<\/p>\n

Bolus advocated for bringing back from Japan the remains of the photographer who filmed the famous U.S. Marines\u2019 flag raising at Iwo Jima. In 2017, Bolus donated to the Northeast Detachment Marine Corps League and Museum in Scranton an American flag that flew on Mount Suribachi in Iwo Jima to commemorate the historic moment\u2019s 70th anniversary, before Bolus purchased the flag at auction.<\/p>\n

Long active in city politics, Bolus, a Republican, relished tangling with Democrats and Republicans alike.<\/p>\n

He had unsuccessfully run for Scranton mayor, both many years ago and more recently. In 2025, a Lackawanna County Court judge ordered that Bolus be removed as a Republican candidate for city mayor in that primary election. In that case, Scranton Republican Charlie Spano again successfully challenged Bolus\u2019 attempt to run for mayor, arguing Bolus falsely claimed in candidate affidavits he was eligible to hold the office when his past felony convictions \u2014 including 1991 theft-related charges and a 2012 conviction for insurance fraud and theft by deception \u2014 legally prohibited him from holding public office.<\/p>\n

Bolus could be both affable and abrasive.<\/p>\n

Several years ago at a Scranton council meeting, Bolus leveled harsh criticisms at then-Scranton Councilman Bill Gaughan, a Democrat. Gaughan\u2019s rejoinder went along the lines of knowing better than to get into a peeing match with a skunk. A few weeks later, Bolus had a person in a skunk costume accompany him to the council meeting.<\/p>\n

Over the past decade, Bolus also became known for his pro-Trump tractor-trailers festooned with images and political messages backing Donald Trump for president, from the time Trump first was a Republican candidate, through his first presidency and afterward. The Trump trailers also trolled and bashed Democrats with words and cartoonish images. Bolus enjoyed parking the trailer on streets near large public gatherings to stir up controversy and mixing it up, at times almost coming to blows, with people who opposed his political views.<\/p>\n

In 2025, Bolus\u2019 strident opposition to the city\u2019s raising of an LGBTQ rainbow flag in front of City Hall for Pride Month and comments he made during council meetings sparked an outcry from some people likening him to a bigot. Bolus called the pride flag a \u201cslap in the face\u201d to veterans and likened it to an affront to the \u201cRule of God,\u201d among various other remarks.<\/p>\n

Bolus also feuded with his Birch Street neighbors in East Mountain over a land dispute. In 2025, the neighbors prevailed in a lawsuit against Bolus to establish a clear ownership title to part of a vacant lot they own on Birch Street, but to which Bolus had long claimed access. Bolus contended he had driveway and utility easement access through the Birch Street property for decades, to his property in the rear. This dispute was the subject of protracted litigation going back to 2009.<\/p>\n

Regarding what some might consider a mixed legacy, Miller said,\u00a0\u201cBob was passionate about what he believed in. A lot of the positions he took were not popular at the end of the day. I appreciated that about Bob. He stood his ground and he took his lumps and he never wavered. He never backed down from a fight. It\u2019s something you kind of have to admire, whether you agreed with him or not.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"ScrantonScranton resident Bob Bolus has his say with the Scranton City Council on Thursday night.
\n\"BobBob Bolus has a bunch of tractor trailer bodies in varying conditions, along with undriveable cars on his property in Jessup. Borough officials believe he\u2019s violating the town\u2019s zoning by illegally operating a junkyard.
\n\"BobBob Bolus of Scranton and a property owner in Luzerne county asks for the resignation of board members after the failure during the election.
\n\"BusinessmanBusinessman Bob Bolus addresses Scranton City Council during a meeting in January. Writers react to Bolus\u2019 recent remarks at council meetings regarding Jessica Rothchild, a Democratic nominee for city council who is an LGBTQ activist.
\n\"BobBob Bolus talks on his phone outside his business in Throop before driving his truck on a \u201cSave America Freedom Convoy\u201d from Scranton to Washington, D.C.
\n\"BobBob Bolus confronts Lackawanna County Commissioners about using the former Globe Store as a County Building during a special meeting inside the former Globe Store. Jake Danna Stevens \/ Staff Photographer
\n\"OrganizerOrganizer Bob Bolus and volunteer Bob Irving cut turkey in the kitchen of All Saints Academy in Scranton Christmas Day Monday, December 25, 2023.<\/p>\n

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