Obituary of Col. Richard L. Boyle

Colonel Richard L.Boyle, USA Ret.

d/o/b 9/7/1928; d/o/d 8/9/2018.

A Life well lived.

Col.Richard L.Boyle, USA Ret. ("Dad") passed away peacefully on 8/9/18 after fighting pneumonia. Dad was born in 1928 in Moline, IL to Catherine Pixley Boyle and Peter Boyle. Dad was the second youngest of 8 children; Leo, Peter, Eleanor, John, Jim, Catherine and youngest Bill. Dad was taught from a young age that family always comes first; whether siblings, nephews/nieces or great nephews/nieces. The Boyle's were renowned in Moline, IL for their numbers, strength of personalities and mischievousness.

After graduating from HS, Dad followed the advice and model of his older brother, Capt. Peter Boyle, USN and enlisted in the US Navy. Dad served in the Pacific Fleet on the USS Pasadena from 1946-1948. Dad followed Peter’s advice again using the GI Bill to attend Yale University, earning a BA in 1952. Dad met Mom (Dolores T.Brexel,a/k/a "Lorry", Albertus Magnus College, B.A., '54) at Yale and they wed in Manhasset, NY on 6/18/54. After the wedding, Mom joined Dad in Chicago where he earned his L.L.M.from Chicago Univ.School of Law in 1955. Mom was the force behind Dad's educational efforts as she worked to support them while Dad studied law. Dad always said that Mom....’was my polish', the keeper of the 'social manners and mores'.

In addition to his service in the US Navy, Dad went on to serve in the Navy Reserves, the Army through ROTC at Yale and the Army Reserves for a total of 42 consecutive years of military service.

Dad's military service in the Army artillery took him all over the US developing ammunitions, supply lines, troop support and moving ammunition’s. He was assigned to a 4 man Howitzer division that moved the cannon by mule pack over the Rockies. Dad and his unit once erroneously hit a bridge in Kansas. Other assignments included summer postings to develop a new tank, to work for the Assistant Under Secretary of the US Dept.of Defense in the Pentagon, as Instructor/Officer at the USA War College and then Assistant Commander at Fort Totten, NY, NY. Dad was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal with double oak leaf clusters in April, 1982. Dad was a proud member of the American Legion Post 160, Great Neck, NY, the 77th Infantry Division Reserve Officers Assoc. and the Military Officers Assoc. of America. The ceremony at Ft.Totten during which Dad was promoted to Colonel in 1982 was a proud and happy moment for the whole family. Dad retired from the USAR on 9/7/1988. In 2008, he was selected to be the Grand Marshall of the Great Neck Memorial Day Parade, fulfilling a long time wish of Dad’s to ride in a convertible in that parade.

Dad’s civilian career as an insurance executive in New York, NY began while he was still in the Reserves. He started as an Underwriter of Surety and Payment Bonds on construction projects in the Far East, Africa, and Latin America. This meant extensive traveling while helping Mom from afar to raise their young and growing family. In the '70's Dad helped write the Payment and Performance Bonds that resulted in the construction of the World Trade Center, New York, NY. Dad traveled all over the world and told of being stopped at various borders because of reading material he was carrying, his military credentials or his odd choices in souvenirs. He retired from the Frank B.Hall & Co. as a CFO in the late 80's.

Mom and Dad’s first two children, Kerry (Kerry Curran), and Lisa (Lisa Mevorach) were born in Chicago. For better employment opportunities and because Mom was originally from Flushing, NY, they moved in with Grandma and Grandpa Brexel (Flushing, NY) where Richard Lee (Lee to family, ‘Rich to all else) was born. After they bought their first home in Great Neck (Jayson Ave.) their youngest child, Amy (Amy Boyle Geisel) was born. Dad’s community involvement in Great Neck included running for public office and helping to build a public playground in their neighborhood. As Dad traveled more, much of the task of parenting was left to Mom. Mom made the decision to move to the north side of Great Neck where they purchased their long term home on Breuer Ave. Mom and Dad were on the GN Historic Preservation

Board for years and helped with zoning issues in Great Neck. Dad regularly attended GN Library Board and School Board Meetings sometimes eliciting comments like “that guy in the Army jacket is here again”. Mom and Dad were also active at St. Aloysius RC Church hosting CCD classes in their home and singing in the choir.

Throughout all the decades, Mom and Dad maintained ties with their respective extended families and taught their children the value and need for family and education. Mom and Dad were supported in part by Grandma and Grandpa Brexel and Uncle Peter Boyle during their first years of marriage. To reciprocate, Dad always tried to help out family members. Dad's key words were -" we are the East Coast Boyle's" meaning that there were and are relatives all over the USA. Dad's observations and advice (as well as Mom's) were that no matter how you made it in to the family; marriage, adoption, friendship or distant relation - you are welcome and are one of us. This was reflected in Dad's hobby of researching the Boyle/Pixley/Smith genealogy and the knowledge that family members have fought in the US military since 1660. This was reflected in Dad's last big project - to buy memorial bricks at the new US Army Museum to honor family members that served in various branches of the US military.

Mom and Dad worked hard to ensure that all 4 kids graduated from College and encouraged all 4 to obtain Graduate degrees. Reading, intellectual (or otherwise) arguing and education were all needed to make it through family get together's; you had to know your stuff if you were going to talk politics with Dad or history with Mom.

A passion of Dad's, his brothers/nephews/nieces and 2 of his children is golf. A maddening game that Dad taught Amy in the last decades of his life. A great way for family to come together, walk in a beautiful place, talk and try hard not to get frustrated.

Mom and Dad are survived by four children, nine grandchildren (Dan, Ian, Caitlin, Jacob, Tracey, Morgan, Arden, Matthew and Katherine), six ½ great grandchildren (Hannah, Sarah, Tabitha, Maya, Eva, Matthew). Dad is survived by his Niece, Bev Boyle and a large gang of Great Nieces, Great Nephews and cousins.

Dad was truly a self-made man; a man formed by the powerful forces of the Depression, World War II, his family, his education and his professional and military careers. A good, long life that impacted countless others that he met, led, counseled or related to. He will be missed.

Donations are suggested in lieu of flowers to:

Habitat for Humanity, 121 Habitat St., Americus GA, 31709-3498, or

The Ringwood Public Library, 30 Cannici Drive, Ringwood NJ 07456, 973 962 6256 or

Christian Health Care Center,CHCC Foundation, 301 Sicomac Ave., Wyckoff NJ 07481.

Amy and the Family thank CHCC/Longview for taking such good care of Dad.

Burial will take place (with Mom) on 9/7/18 at 10:30am at Long Island National Cemetery,

2040 Wellwood Ave., Farmingdale, NY 11735-1211, 631 454 4949.