In Memory of Dr. William L. Boyle, Jr.

Obituary

Dr. William L. Boyle, Jr., a private college educator and longtime resident of the Utica, New York area, died on Friday November 10, 2023.  He was 90 years old.

Dr. Boyle was born in Utica on July 23, 1933.  He was the only son of educational parents Gladys K. Boyle and William L. Boyle of Utica.  A native Utican, Dr. Boyle was a graduate of Utica Free Academy.

Dr. Boyle earned an A.B. degree at Colgate University in 1955.  He earned both his Master’s Degree and Doctorate at Columbia University. Years later he gave Colgate a named Dr. Boyle chairman professorship in Political Science, his academic major, plus two Dr. Boyle award funds.  Dr. Boyle served with honor as a U.S. Air Force officer from 1955-58.

During 1965-75 in Manhattan, Dr. Boyle became the Senior Vice President of the Council For Academic Education with ties to the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

Dr. Boyle was married to the former Sarah Ahrendt (Roberts) of New Canaan, Connecticut.

In 1975-78 Dr. Boyle was President of Keuka College in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York.  From 1978-92, Dr. Boyle became President of Curry College in Massachusetts, outside of Boston.  Dr. Boyle, became President Emeritus of both these coeducational private colleges.

Upon retirement Dr. Boyle returned home to greater Utica.  His professional focus now was with local private college consulting.

Dr. Boyle served on numerous boards, including the Slocum-Dickson Foundation, the House of the Good Shepherd, the Oneida County Historical Society, and the Family Services of the Mohawk Valley. His social memberships included The Fort Schuyler Club (where he served on the board of managers), the Sadaquada Golf Club, the Yahnundasis Golf Club, the Utica Rotary Club (where he was elected a Paul Harris Fellow), and the Glass Hill Golf Club.

Dr. Boyle was named to the Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute Board of Trustees as board secretary for ten years. His name was later added to a major art gallery at the Munson, where he established a Boyle arts scholarship as well.  Further, Dr. Boyle endowed two local Boyle funds at Utica’s Community Foundation, one in his own name and the other in honor of his parents.

Ever loyal to greater Utica and his family, Dr. Boyle was predeceased by his sister, Mary Ann Seitz (Boyle), and is survived by his nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, several cousins, and loyal friends both local and elsewhere.  His final arrangements are entrusted to Friedel, Williams and Edmonds, New Hartford.  Reflecting Dr. Boyle’s own wishes, there will be no funeral home calling hours, memorial services, or flowers.  Interment will be private at his family’s convenience at their Boyle plot, Forest Hill Cemetery, Utica.

His family asks that if you are so inclined, you may make a donation to the Willowvale Fire Company at P.O. Box 69 Chadwicks, N.Y. 13319.

Online messages of sympathy may be left at:  www.fwefh.com