Community mourning death of well-known developer, Healing Place advocate Jesse Bollinger
The Louisville community is mourning the loss of a well-known developer with a long list of accomplishments, but his lasting legacy is that of The Healing Place recovery center.
Jesse Charles Bollinger Jr. died Sunday at the age of 92. His family said he died peacefully in his sleep at Norton Brownsboro Hospital in Louisville.
Bollinger was known for residential and commercial developments across Louisville. He worked as a real estate developer and builder until his last days, working and completing homes, motels, apartments and senior care facilities not just in Kentucky, but in Tennessee and other states.
In fact, here's a look at some of the neighborhoods and subdivisions he's behind: Thoroughbred Acres, Keeneland, Rolling Hills, Brownsboro Woods, Stony Farm and Artisan Park in the Louisville area.
Click here to read his full obituary
When it comes to shopping centers, Bollinger's name is attached to Village Square Plaza, Tradewinds West Shopping Center, Tradewinds Fern Creek Shopping Center, the J-Town Village Shopping Center and the Fairdale Shopping Center.
"He had a magnetic personality and made everyone feel like they were old friends at their first meeting. He rarely worked alone and never took credit for success. He was humbly empathic, a model of compassion and the belief in the good of every person, and he would meet any person wherever they were," according to his obituary.
Still, of all the developments and buildings Bollinger helped put up across the metro, his family said he was "most proud" of his work with The Healing Place. The nationally recognized recovery program opened in 1997 in Louisville, and Bollinger was right there.
"I'm not responsible for it, all these other guys are and they're responsible for each other," Bollinger told WLKY in an interview when The Healing Place first opened.
In the video player below: Jesse Bollinger Jr. welcomes opening of The Healing Place
Years later, The Healing Place and its programs serve 1,000 people every day at no cost. The organization put a tribute up in honor of Bollinger.
"None of these accomplishments would have been possible without Jesse’s passion, dedication, humility, and vision," The Healing Place said on its website.
Click here to learn more about Bollinger's history with The Healing Place.
Bollinger was born on Feb. 2, 1929, in Louisville. He was one of nine children and graduated from Louisville Male High School. He went on to attend the University of Kentucky, graduating in 1951 with a bachelor's of science in commerce.
Bollinger then joined the Air Force as a lieutenant, retiring two years later as a captain.
He was also a member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church.
"He listened without judgment and was always there to help find a solution. He was there to plant the seeds and give the motivation to help all of his family in their success. He was the Uncle and Brother that could help guide. He was the Poppy that was proud."
Read more about Bollinger's legacy, including his work with The Healing Place, here.