Richard Fowler Boyden

Richard Fowler Boyden, age 90 , died peacefully at home on November 1, 2023. Dick was born in Greenfield, MA in 1933, the son of Bartlett W. and Louisiana F. Boyden. He grew up in Deerfield, MA and graduated from Deerfield Academy in 1952 and Wesleyan University (History) in Middletown, CT in 1956.

While at Wesleyan he was a member of the Phi Nu Theta fraternity and varsity soccer co-captain. Upon graduation he enrolled at the Naval Officer Candidate School in Newport, RI. After graduating as an Ensign and training at the Navy’s Communication School, he was assigned to the com-missioning crew of the USS Davis DD-937. He was later transferred to the Navy Communications Office in the Pentagon. He completed his active-duty commitment in 1959 and served for 17 more years in reserve status and retired with the rank of Commander in 1979. The Navy was a trans-formative time for Dick, serving under Captain George Ball. In 1959 Dick joined the Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Company in Washington, DC and served in varied management position for seven years. While working in Washington Dick met his future bride, Jane H. Dunham, and they were married in 1968. In 1967 he began a 26-year career as a college admissions officer, first at Bowdoin College in Brunswick ME from 1967 to 1977. He then went on to become Director of Admissions at Denison University in Granville, OH from 1977 to 1991 and led the staff in effecting significant enrollment, marketing and management accomplishments. Following Denison he served as Dean of Admissions at Butler University in Indianapolis, IN for two years. In 1998 Dick and his wife Jane, who later passed away in 2004, came to Cape Cod and settled in Mashpee. During his retirement years Dick was active at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church in Fal-mouth serving in a number of administrative roles. He was a board member of the Orenda Wildlife Land Trust and headed up its Land Stewardship Committee. Dick also served on the Board of the Bourne Conservation Trust and was very active in building and maintaining the Trust’s many walking trails. He also maintained his close ties to his Deerfield Academy 1952 classmates as he served as Class Agent for many years as well as his Wesleyan fraternity brothers. We loved Dick for his attention to detail, his loyalty to friends and organizations mentioned previously. Yes, he was impatient with waiting in lines, be it in his car at the Mashpee Rotary or waiting to be served in a restaurant. His many years in the college admissions business drilled him into the importance of being on time and staying with a schedule. Dick never denied being very task oriented. He had a big nonjudgmental heart for his friends and family. A lover of the out-doors, Dick was often happiest with his chainsaw while working in the woods with “The Trailmeisters.” Dick cherished his many adventures abroad with longtime partner, Linda including trips to Greece, Italy, and Playa del Carmen, Mexico.

He is survived by his daughter Cynthia H. Boyden of Alexandria, VA, son John G. Boyden and his wife Kristin and grandson Andrew John and granddaughter Katherine May of Shamong, NJ, Dick’s sister Mrs. Ralph Parady and her husband Ralph of Cape Elizabeth, ME and his partner of many years, Linda J. Genest of Mashpee. The Boyden family is grateful to Linda’s daughter, Lisa Fink, for her unwavering kindness and compassion during Dick’s last hours on earth.

A memorial service for Dick will be held at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church at 91 Main St. in Falmouth on November 18th at 11am; reception to follow.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Barnabas Episcopal Church at P.O. Box 203, Falmouth, MA 02541, the Bourne Conservation Trust Box 203, Cataumet, MA 02534 or the charity of one’s choice.

Burial will be private at a later date.

Email condolences to St Barnabas Episcopal Church at: office@stbfalmouth.org  Your message will be forwarded on to his son and daughter.