Rita Singer Boller's Obituary
Rita Singer Boller of Holladay, Utah, passed away peacefully in her sleep at the age of 74 in the presence of her husband and son, following a courageous battle with a lengthy illness.
Rita was born in Brussels, Belgium, on May 23, 1950, to Samuel and Paula Singer. When she was four years old, her parents along with Rita and her younger brother Charles emigrated to the USA and settled in Wilkes-Barre, PA, where she grew up and went to both high school and college. She graduated from Wilkes University where she majored in Music and Theater Arts and starred in numerous plays and musicals both at her college and in regional theaters. She was a gifted musician and singer having grown up in a musical household and began singing lessons at a very young age with a renowned professor.
Shortly after her college graduation she launched her musical career as the lead singer of the band Atlantis, which is where she met the love of her life, Duane Boller, who was also a member of the band. The band toured throughout the United States and as its popularity grew the band was in great demand appearing frequently in Las Vegas, Atlantic City, Lake Tahoe and various renowned clubs and resorts.
In 1991 Rita and Duane married in Belleville, IL and a year later welcomed another soon-to-be musician into the world, their son Samuel (Sammy) who is a renowned guitarist and recording artist living in Detroit, where Rita and family lived prior to moving to Salt Lake City. Though Rita ended her career to devote herself full time to being a loving wife and mother, she never looked back or had any regrets as her close-knit family was herself proclaimed truest love and greatest achievement. During her performing years Rita appeared on various television and radio broadcasts including the nationally broadcast Merv Griffin Show, and in later years she had a successful second career with her own online resale business featuring high-end apparel, handbags and accessories from the most famous European design and couture houses.
But Rita will always be remembered most of all by anyone whose life she touched for her lively, effervescent personality, incredible sense of humor, warmth and empathy. She cultivated incredible long-lasting friendships wherever she toured in her performing days and afterwards, and wherever she lived. She will be sorely missed not only by her extended family, but also by her many friends throughout the country, with whom she did her best to stay in touch despite a debilitating illness.
In addition to her loving husband Duane and son Sammy, Rita is survived by her brothers Charles Singer (Pennsylvania) and Sandy Singer (New York City), sisters-in-law Ruby Parker (Arizona) and Catherine Klingelhoefer (Illinois), Karen Singer (New York City) and numerous nephews and nieces living both in the Midwest and in New York. A private family service and celebration of Rita’s rich and never dull life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in her name to ALS United Rocky Mountain - https://alsrockymountain.org/donate/ or to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty of Animals - https://www.aspca.org/ways-to-give.
What’s your fondest memory of Rita?
What’s a lesson you learned from Rita?
Share a story where Rita's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Rita you’ll never forget.
How did Rita make you smile?