Dr. Karel Jan Bossart
July 17, 1939 ~ May 23, 2021
Karel Jan Bossart Jr., born July 17, 1939, Philadelphia, PA to Karel J Bossart of Antwerp, Belgium and Cornelia Chase Bossart of Catonsville, MD. K. Jan or "Jan" died peacefully at home, in Portland, ME on May 23, 2021, at the age of 81.
Jan grew up in La Jolla CA, graduated from University of California, Berkeley in 1961. He attended medical school at the University of Miami and graduated in 1965. Jan completed an internship at San Francisco General between 1965-1966, then residency at University of California, San Francisco between 1966-1971. Jan served in the Navy between 1969- 1973 as the ship's surgeon on the USS Hancock which was deployed to Vietnam. In 1973, he was honorably discharged with the rank of Lieutenant Commander. Jan then went into private practice as a general surgeon in San Francisco for 22 years. In 1995, Jan moved with his wife Martha and her son Elliot to Maine where he served veterans at the Togus VA for 15 years until his retirement in 2010.
Jan had a zest for life and loved to sail, travel, and watch his beloved Cal Bears college football team ("wait till next year!"). Additionally, he enjoyed golfing with Martha, or watching/discussing the Red Sox with his friends and family. Jan especially enjoyed coaching his grandsons when they were playing sports. Although Jan was not a singer, he enjoyed belting out songs by Marty Robbins, Kate Wolf, and John Denver. He also enjoyed attending the symphony, opera, and ballet. Jan loved the endless banter that he shared with his brother whenever they were together.
Jan formed life-long friendships and loved to organize outings such as tailgate parties before Cal football games; pool-parties and barbeques; or special dinners at home.
Jan is survived by his wife Martha Vrana-Bossart, his children with his first wife Kate Lord, and his stepson. His children /grandchildren include daughter Mary Halfpenny; grandsons Zach, Sam, and Jude Halfpenny; son Charlie Bossart; daughter Katharine Bossart and her husband Carlos Hilson; son David Bossart; grandchildren Sophia and Dylan Bossart and his stepson Elliot Vrana. Jan is also survived by his brother Newell Bossart and his wife Myrle Ann; nephew Chase Bossart and his wife Elizabeth; nephew Russell Bossart; and Jan's sister Marion Bossart. Jan was predeceased by his parents.
A memorial service for Jan will be held Thursday, June 24, 2021, at 4:00pm at the Conroy-Tully Walker South Portland Chapel, 1024 Broadway, South Portland, ME. A Celebration of Life reception will take place immediately following the service in the same location. Please visit www.ConroyTullyWalker.com to share a favorite "Jan-ism" on his memorial page.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Beacon Hospice of South Portland, an Amedisys company at www.amedisys.com/donate who made it possible for Jan to die in his beloved home with his wife Martha, his cat Calypso, and his yellow lab Jasmine at his side.
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Martha, We are so very sorry for your loss. Thinking of you, Your AAAM Family
– Tribute Store
Such great memories Andy!
– Martha
We loved your visit to Maine and spoke of it so often. Thank you for sharing
– Martha
We loved that trip
– Martha
Thank you Judy
– Martha
Thank you for 25 years! We truly had fun- travels, poolside parties, quite moments and raucous moments! Sailing, skiing, cycling, golfing- wow. Cali, Jazzy and I miss you everyday!
– Martha
Our sincerest condolences to Martha and all of Jan’s family. Jan was a fun-loving, gregarious, outspoken, and honest guy. Though it’s been many years, he was never forgotten, May he Rest In Peace.
– Fred & Gloria Farrington
Jan was always willing to listen to a medical concern
– Martha
Jan was the rarest of men; a sterling intellect and manner served in a ceramic beer stein. He was an individual who shined above his professional peers but bonded immediately with the workaday people who supported him. There was no strata, just people…like himself. These words are far more than posthumous platitudes- they represent who Jan was. Speaking in the past tense of someone who remains much loved is so pathetically constrained and unfair. For those who knew Jan fully, they realize that the the limits of their love for him are boundless, there is no “was”- only IS. Adieu, Jan. Thank you for your time with me. Thank you for you.
– Jerry Bosse
Thank you dear friends!
– Martha
Jan’s life was a life well lived. We met him and Martha only a few short years ago, but immediately took a liking to them. Jan was perhaps the most honest man we ever met, honest with his emotions, his feelings, his friends, and yes his failings and shortcomings. He was not pretentious. He loved his Southern Comfort, his wife Martha, his pet dog and cat, and all of his friends. We are so happy to be part of that circle. We will miss that honesty, but most of all, we will miss Jan dearly. Rest in peace, my friend.
– Bob & Nancy Plasse
Thank you
– Martha
Thank you
– Martha
My condolences to Martha and the rest of the family. I was privileged to meet Jan and Martha on their visit to Antwerp, where we explored our Belgian Bossart family history together. It was a lovely visit, which I remember fondly. I was amazed and charmed by his energy, interest in the world around him and his sense of humor. May he rest in peace.
– Dora Scott
We were saddened when we learnt that our cousin Jan passed away on 23 May 2021. Our sincerest condolences to Martha and Family, also, to the Bossart families who lost a brother and uncle. Jan’s father and his sister, our mother who hailed from Belgium epitomize a family whose siblings were split to different corners of the earth. My mother Dora, Jan’s aunt, always referred to her and her brother living at opposite sides of the globe / earth; with La Jolla at latitude +32o and Bloemfontein at -29o, and the two cities being in different hemispheres. The large distance impinged on any visits between the American and South African families. During 2005 Susan and I visited the USA and we had the wonderful opportunity to visit Jan and Martha in Maine. We were generously entertained with a beautiful crayfish home dinner and visits to various interesting aspects of their village during that week-end. We spent much time talking about family matters and we noticed how Jan doted on his grandparent’s antique floor clock. RIP Jan. Fred and Susan Scott Johannesburg, ZA
– Fred and Susan
I just found out that Jan has passed away. In the two short years that we worked together, I couldn’t have had a better partner: skilled, funny, supportive, and down-to-earth. We clicked right away, and he was always my best buddy at work. After we both left the hospital we did keep up for a bit, and my great regret is that we let that lapse. Jan, you were a great and kind man, a terrific friend, and the world is a poorer place without you! Here’s to you, my friend.
– Judy Weisman
I consider myself very fortunate to have known Jan over the past 21 years. He was truly a one of a kind individual with so many wonderful attributes. Some of my fondest memories of Jan were dining at high end restaurants with him and Martha, golfing with him, and our many conversations about everything from politics to sports to the stock market. In fact, Jan and I would often bet about where the stock market was going to be at the end of each calendar year and he would consistently beat me. Another thing that always stood out about Jan is that he always had a joke to tell every time I saw him. I can barely remember any jokes I hear and yet he was able to consistently tell new jokes and always delivered them so well. I also echo many of the people who spoke at the beautiful service in saying that although he was brilliant, he was also very humble. You never heard him bragging about himself but rather would always deflect that type of attention away from himself. I already miss him very much and know I will continue to do so. However, I need to consider myself lucky to have had the chance to get to know him and become friends with him over the past 21 years.
– Erick Eaton
In the mid Nineties three happy UCSF surgeons and their wives sailed around the Greek Islands. On our last day, 30 miles from home port, I noticed the mainsail sheet hand come off its cleat and gone over the side. Our resolute Captain, Dr Wilson immediately hove to. Taking charge immediately, Jan dove in. He reported the entire errant mainsheet was wrapped tightly around the propeller. The sail could not be lowered, the engine could not be started. We were becalmed in dead air. Jan and Martha immediately devised a plan. They began free diving under the propeller with only dinner forks for tools and and endless advice from Captain Wilson ..After several hours of rotating breath holding dives Martha and Jan freed the entangled mainsheet. And that remarkable feat of lung power helps explain why in any large noisy room you could aways hear Jan’s authoritative opinions multiple decibels above all the others. With love for our dear friend Jan, we remain as we once were fellow surgeons and shipmates, Mary and Tom Shapiro
– Thonas Shapiro
I remember this so well Tom and Mary- thanks for sharing!
– Martha
So beautiful Jerry, thank you.
– Martha
Our condolences Martha and family on your loss of Jan. He was such a great friend and had a joie de vivre which was infectious! Loved his kind but down to earth ways. Thank you Jan for all the good advice and help with our Mom when she was sick. We could always count on you! Stefan enjoyed talking with Jan about his father who was a genius rocket scientist. He loved d reading the book about his father’s life and accomplishments. We enjoyed visiting you at home and listening to you regale us about your travel adventures to exotic places. Martha, we are thinking of you, and missing Jan. With love, Agnes and Stefan
– Agnes and Stefan Lorincz
I first met Jan when we both arrived in Berkeley for fall rush in 1957. During rush we were housed in Berkeley’s Shattuck Hotel, in a room that was made into something like a military barracks. It was on the second floor, I think. It was a meeting room or a room used for buffet lunches or dinners. I don’t remember if the arrangement were for all rushees or for candidates for the Cal freshman football team. Jan and I both pledged the same fraternity, SAE, and moved out of the hotel at the same time. The fraternity said that while they provided beds, we would have to supply our own bedding. Someone suggested that we could get it from the Shattuck. After removing our personal things from the room, Jan and I and a couple of other guys who had pledged elsewhere, took the bedding from the room and tossed it out the window to accomplices waiting below with cars in gear. I don’t know if the hotel was aware of it, but they never sent the police after us. Hopefully, there is a statute of limitations. Is this confession appropriate? Jan and I were good friends as Berkeley freshmen, pledge brothers, and later as upper classmen and actives in the fraternity. I have been a friend of all his wives, as he was of both of mine. We were best man at each other’s first wedding. We played a lot of bridge together, tailgated at many Cal football games, and in spite of the great distance between us, we able to keep in touch. Obviously, not as much as we would have liked. We did manage some trips together — to Bear Valley one summer, to Cape Kennedy and Orlando, Florida when the Bears played Clemson in the Citrus Bowl, to New Zealand and Australia in 2007. Cindi and I visited Maine in 2007, and again in 2017 and were able to see the new house. Our condolences to Jan’s wife, Martha, and her son, Elliott, to Jan’s brother, Newell, his sister, Marion, to his children, Mary, Katharine, Charlie, and David, and to all their extended families. Jan was a good man and a good friend. — Andy and Cindi Segale to Jan’s children, Mary, Kathr
– Andy Segale
Thank you Erick for your kind remembrance!
– Martha
Thank you for your kind words
– Martha