Malaga Cove business owners and employees in Palos Verdes Estates gathered to surprise beloved UPS driver Jerry Bollinger on his retirement day after 40 years of service Tuesday October 30, 2018. Bollinger received a police escort as he arrived at plaza, (Photo by Robert Casillas,Contributing Photographer)

Malaga Cove business owners and employees in Palos Verdes Estates gathered to surprise beloved UPS driver Jerry Bollinger on his retirement day after 40 years of service Tuesday October 30, 2018. People signed poster board with photo. (Photo by Robert Casillas,Contributing Photographer)

Sound The gallery will resume in seconds

Malaga Cove business owners and employees in Palos Verdes Estates gathered to surprise beloved UPS driver Jerry Bollinger on his retirement day after 40 years of service Tuesday October 30, 2018. Employees of TravelStore employees Pam Jacobs, right, and Maike Cenci dressed as UPS drivers. (Photo by Robert Casillas,Contributing Photographer)

Malaga Cove business owners and employees in Palos Verdes Estates gathered to surprise beloved UPS driver Jerry Bollinger on his retirement day after 40 years of service Tuesday October 30, 2018. Bollinger is all smiles as he arrives at the cove. (Photo by Robert Casillas,Contributing Photographer)

Malaga Cove business owners and employees in Palos Verdes Estates gathered to surprise beloved UPS driver Jerry Bollinger on his retirement day after 40 years of service Tuesday October 30, 2018. Bollinger gets a high-five from crowd. (Photo by Robert Casillas,Contributing Photographer)



Malaga Cove business owners and employees in Palos Verdes Estates gathered to surprise beloved UPS driver Jerry Bollinger on his retirement day after 40 years of service Tuesday October 30, 2018. Bollinger got a certificate of recognition from PVE City Hall. (Photo by Robert Casillas,Contributing Photographer)

Malaga Cove business owners and employees in Palos Verdes Estates gathered to surprise beloved UPS driver Jerry Bollinger on his retirement day after 40 years of service Tuesday October 30, 2018. Bollinger smiles after receiving bottle of champagne. (Photo by Robert Casillas,Contributing Photographer)

Malaga Cove business owners and employees in Palos Verdes Estates gathered to surprise beloved UPS driver Jerry Bollinger on his retirement day after 40 years of service Tuesday October 30, 2018. Bollinger kisses his wife Tracy who was there for surprise. (Photo by Robert Casillas,Contributing Photographer)

Malaga Cove business owners and employees in Palos Verdes Estates gathered to surprise beloved UPS driver Jerry Bollinger on his retirement day after 40 years of service Tuesday October 30, 2018. Bollinger shares his thoughts and thanks to the big crowd of people he provided service. (Photo by Robert Casillas,Contributing Photographer)

Malaga Cove business owners and employees in Palos Verdes Estates gathered to surprise beloved UPS driver Jerry Bollinger on his retirement day after 40 years of service Tuesday October 30, 2018.Bollinger waves goodbye after impromptu speech. (Photo by Robert Casillas,Contributing Photographer)



Malaga Cove business owners and employees in Palos Verdes Estates gathered to surprise beloved UPS driver Jerry Bollinger on his retirement day after 40 years of service Tuesday October 30, 2018. Bollinger receives hugs from business people who appreciated his service for three decades. (Photo by Robert Casillas,Contributing Photographer)

For more than 40 years, UPS driver Jerry Bollinger not only picked up and dropped off packages, but he delivered his sunny disposition as he worked his route along the Palos Verdes Peninsula.

In fact, Bollinger made such an impact that when he announced earlier this year that he was retiring, many of the people that he interacted with on a daily basis decided to do something special to honor him.

“We’re real big on Halloween in our office, so six months or so ago, Jerry told us his last day was Halloween. When he walked out of the office that day, we said ‘that’s it, we’re all dressing as Jerry from UPS for Halloween this year’,” said Sue Elliott, general manager at the TravelStore travel agency at the Malaga Cove Plaza in Palos Verdes Estates. “We started telling people in the plaza and it kind of grew from there.”

About three weeks ago, TravelStore employees and workers with other businesses in the plaza put a plan in motion to get the word out about Jerry’s last day, even contacting his boss to find out what time he’d arrive in the plaza, and making posters for people to sign.

Separately, some area residents also started collecting cards and even started a retirement account for Bollinger on GoFundMe.com.

“It all just kind of came together,” Elliott said. Even when Bollinger’s last day was moved up to the day before Halloween, the plan to wear UPS costumes on his last day was stuck to.

On Tuesday, Oct. 30, dozens of well-wishers – many dressed in homemade brown UPS costumes and cutouts of Bollinger’s face as masks – greeted him as he drove into the plaza at 10:30 a.m. sharp on his last day. Many cheered and chanted “Jer-ry! Jer-ry!” as he entered the parking lot and parked at the plaza’s fountain in order to greet his well-wishers.

“First, I was embarrassed, then I was flabbergasted, now I’m honored,” Bollinger said. “My heart went into my throat and my stomach went down into my shoes. I didn’t expect this.”

Bollinger, who worked for 40 years, three months and two weeks with UPS, to be exact, spent about 30 years working the Palos Verdes Peninsula route. He said that after working so long, he hasn’t yet decided how he’ll spend his retirement.

“I’m going to enjoy November and December for the first time in 40 years, without having the crush of the holidays, and if I can’t figure it out by January, I’m in trouble,” he said.

A big reason why he’s so beloved and will be missed is his upbeat demeanor, said the people at the Malaga Cove Plaza.

“I’ve never seen him frown, I’ve never seen him sad. He’s just always up and happy,” said Pamela Jacobs of the TravelStore. “We would love to be just like him. He’s become like a part of the team here.”

“He made my day many times,” she said.

Added Maike Cenci, also with the TravelStorei: “He puts everybody in a good mood.” “I wish him all the best. He’s got big shoes to fill.”

As far as what kept him upbeat for so many years, Bollinger said the answer was simple.

“It’s a matter of counting your blessings,” he said. “I enjoy good health. There are guys half my age that get busted up, a knee or a back and their career’s done. So I’ve been very blessed that way, in keeping good health.”

“Plus, look where I work,” he said. “It’s beautiful here.”

.