About Christopher Bollyn

Christopher Bollyn was born in Chicago and grew up during the 1960's in suburban Schaumburg, Illinois. He was raised in an educated middle class family. He delivered newspapers before school and became an Eagle Scout at age 15. He served as an altar boy in the Episcopalian Church and earned the God and Country award. 

His father, Albert, grew up in Chicago's Austin neighborhood and graduated with a degree in journalism from University of Illinois after serving the Army Corps of Engineers in Germany. Christopher's father was his first proofreader and editor. Albert Bollyn owned an interior decoration business and enjoyed acting in the theatre guild.

The Bollyn family is related to Sir Thomas Boleyn, the father of Queen Anne Boleyn, the second wife of Henry VIII and mother of Queen Elizabeth I.

The Crest of Anne Boleyn, Queen of England

His mother, Charlotte, grew up in southwestern North Dakota, the daughter of Scandinavian and Swiss homesteaders.  Charlotte was an educator and interior designer who held advanced degrees from Columbia University.  When she studied in New York, Charlotte worked as governess for the Farish family and took care of the young William S. Farish III, the former U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom and friend of the Bush family.

Christopher's parents both served in World War II.

After graduating from high school, Christopher traveled extensively in Europe and the Middle East.  For several winters he lived and studied in Oslo, Norway.  In spring he would cycle across Europe and the Near East.  In Norway, he lived with an erudite Swedish countess and studied Middle Eastern history and Semitic languages at the University of Oslo.

Chris in Oslo, Norway

Christopher returned to the United States in the late 1970s and began studies at the University of California at Davis.  He has a degree in history from U.C. Santa Cruz.  His emphasis was on Palestine/Israel.  His last year of university was spent in Norway, Greece, and the newly liberated Baltic States where he researched the psychological effects of the Soviet occupation on the native population. 

Christopher met his wife, Helje, in Oslo.  Helje is a Swedish citizen who was born and educated in Estonia. She has a degree in English Language and Literature from Tallinn University. They were married in the Chapel of Kalmar Castle, Sweden. After the birth of their second child, Christopher and Helje wrote a book ABC Zoo and dedicated it to the  children who love to read.

"The primary necessity to the very existence of a family is peace."
George MacDonald

Helje & Christopher during their wedding in Kalmar Castle
with Reverend Dag Sandahl
 

Kalmar_Castle_built_ca_1200.jpg

Kalmar_Castle_at_night.jpg 

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To contact the Bollyn Family:
3 Golf Center, Suite 365
Golf/Roselle Rds
Hoffman Estates, IL 60169
U. S. A.

Email: christopher@bollyn.com