Bohdan Kolinsky

Bohdan Kolinsky, longtime Hartford Courant high school writer and editor, died in Decemeber 2003 at 49.

Everyone knew him as Bo. And Bo knew everyone. More than a writer or editor, Bo was an ambassador for The Courant sports department.

 Bo earned the trust of those he covered.

``My relationship with Bo as a reporter was that I could tell him something off the record and he never, ever abused the confidentiality that existed between us,'' said Mike Savage, executive director of the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference, the governing body for high school sports. ``I've rarely had that type of relationship with a reporter. I don't know how you find reporters like that -- honesty, integrity, a true professional. He had my deepest respect.''

Charlie Sharos, retired soccer and basketball coach at South Windsor High School, worked often with Bo on CIAC and state coaches association matters.

``High school athletics will miss him greatly,'' Sharos said. ``He was an advocate for high school sports and wanted high school athletes and teams to get their due in the paper.

``He walked the extra mile to get information and make sure his stories were accurate. He was very helpful. If you needed anything he'd look it up for you. He always looked at the good side of a person. That was his personality: always be good to people.''

Bo was president of the Connecticut Sports Writers' Alliance in 1978-80 and had been treasurer since 1981. He was one of the principal organizers of the annual Gold Key Dinner.

In 1989, Bo received the Art McGinley Award for meritorious service from the Connecticut Sports Writers' Alliance. At 35, he was the youngest recipient of the award.

In 1996, at the National High School Athletic Coaches Association awards banquet, he received the District I Distinguished Service Award. The Connecticut High School Coaches Association had given him its Distinguished Service Award in 1984. In 1987, he received the Distinguished Service Award for work outside the field of athletics from the Connecticut Association of Athletic Directors.

In 1997, Bo was elected to the Greater Hartford Twilight Baseball League Hall of Fame in the Honorary Member category. He also was an officer of the Jaycee-Courant Baseball League. In 2001, he was inducted into the Connecticut Soccer Hall of Fame.

Since his death he has been honored by numerous organizations and high schools.

Bo began at The Courant in February 1973 and had directed high school coverage since 1977. He was a 1972 graduate of Wethersfield High School. He had an associate's degree in media communication from Manchester Community College and attended UConn.

Jeff Otterbein
Sports editor – Hartford Courant