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In memory of those who have Crossed the Bar
BOYD, James Ross (Jim) - We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of James (Jim) Ross Boyd. He died suddenly at his home in Dartmouth on February 24th at the age of 81. One minute, he was shovelling snow in the driveway, and in the next, he was somewhere else. Jim had an abiding faith in God.
He will be greatly missed by surviving family: his beloved wife of 58 years, Angela (nee Curley); son, Colin (Jenny Haysom); sisters, Diane (Jim Wood), Shirley (Don Phillips), and Wendy; his grandchildren, Lucy (Joshua Wagamese), Sam, Julia, and Lucas, as well as extended family and dear friends. Jim was predeceased by his son, Kevin (Denise), and his parents.
Born in Winnipeg on September 14th, 1944, to James and Phyllis Boyd, he was a colicky infant. As a bright-eyed and precocious preschooler, he taught himself to read while his mother was busy with baby Diane. Two more sisters followed, Shirley and Wendy, and the four close siblings enjoyed a classic Prairie childhood with glorious northern summers at the family cottage in Minaki.
At the age of seventeen, Jim arrived at the Royal Military College in Kingston, entering a life of discipline and routine that he was uniquely fit for. In the spring of ’65, during a weeklong spree of graduation festivities, he was matched with a beautiful, red-headed nursing student on a blind date. Fun-loving Angela Marie was the perfect dance partner for Jim, and the two instantly clicked. After spending the summer together in Kingston, Jim left to to attend the California Institute of Technology where he earned a Master’s Degree in Chemical Engineering. He and Angela were reunited shortly thereafter, and married in Ottawa in 1967.
Following Jim’s career as a naval officer, the couple frequently moved and forged many close friendships with other military families. They welcomed their first son, Kevin James, in 1968 in Victoria. Two years later, Colin Patrick was born in Halifax. During their postings across the country, the family often traveled to Prince Edward Island for their summer holidays to be with Angela’s family, where Jim enjoyed games of mini golf and catch with his boys, followed by evenings of black flies and brewskis, cards, “tunes” and guitars. From the get-go, Jim was embraced by the Curleys, by Angela’s parents, O’Leary and Mary, and her siblings, John, Michael, Billy, Kathy, and Gerard––as well as their wonderful wives and kids.
Jim’s naval career concluded when he took a job with the Ship Repair Unit in Halifax and the family settled permanently in Dartmouth. Here, he completed an MBA at Saint Mary’s University, channeling his passion for stats and spreadsheets (indeed, he arranged his world with precision, care, and tidy round handwriting). When he retired from the public service, Jim turned to ministry within the Catholic Church, work that fed his inner being while forming spiritual connections with others. He also travelled extensively, beginning with a year-long backpacking tour of Europe with Angela, and many subsequent trips and cruises with family and friends. Jim was a skilled and fearless driver who could handle everything from a stick shift on a winding verge, to the throng of a foreign metropolis.
In retirement, Jim especially excelled at being a grandfather. He loved to play with his grandchildren, and was equally comfortable throwing a ball, building a sandcastle, or wearing a pink hat and hoisting a tiny tea cup. He could immerse himself in just about any game, with kids and grownups alike, and spent many a quiet hour on his own, occupied with a crossword or a sudoku puzzle, delighted by the challenge.
Jim’s playfulness and warm smile are things we’ll fondly remember. We cherished his gentle spirit, his dry wit, and even tolerated a contrarian streak that had him shovelling wet snow in his 80s. He died having lived a full and beautiful life, and every bit of him was loved.
A funeral will be held on Tuesday, March 3rd, 11 a.m. at St. Thomas More church in Dartmouth (15 Caledonia Road). In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Feed Nova Scotia. (Arbor Memorial)
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