Richard Boers

1941 - 2013

BORN

1941

DIED

2013

Richard Boers Obituary

(News Article) IDA, Mich. - Richard Boers, a retired Toledo commissioner of forestry and open space planning and a founding father of Toledo Botanical Garden, died Tuesday in his Ida home after a long illness. He was 72.

Mr. Boers' longtime close friend, Wendell Peterson, said the cause of death was unknown but that Mr. Boers had been sick for about five years, often suffered from dizzy spells, and had several serious falls.

"He was always the picture of health, and then he came down with some strange syndrome," Mr. Peterson said.

Mr. Boers spent 30 years in the parks department from the mid-1960s to the mid-1990s and was known for "greening up" the city. As a city administrator he was responsible for land acquisition and expansion, involving 608 acres and 72 parks in three decades, including International Park.

Mr. Boers also helped to establish the Toledo Botanical Garden. He was a trustee emeritus of the garden's board and was affectionately called "Father Crosby,"a nickname that refers to the garden's original name, Crosby Garden. He was excited to be a judge for the Crosby Festival of the Arts for the first time this year, Mr. Peterson said.

"I can't say enough about the impact Dick Boers had on the garden," said Karen Ranney Wolkins, executive director of Toledo Botanical Garden. "If it hadn't been for him, the Toledo Botanical Garden likely wouldn't exist."

Former Toledo Mayor Carty Finkbeiner persuaded Mr. Boers to come out of retirement in 2005 to serve as interim director of parks, recreation, and forestry for a few months. Mr. Finkbeiner called Mr. Boers a visionary and the single greatest advocate for forestry education and horticulture that Toledo has ever had.

"Dick was the planner of International Park, and he knew how to develop large tracts of land by blending green spaces with buildings," Mr. Finkbeiner said.

In 1995, Mayor Finkbeiner asked city council to name the road that runs from Main Street to Miami Street through International Park after Mr. Boers. The sign at the park's entrance reads "Boers-Boyer Way," in honor of Mr. Boers and the Willis B. Boyer museum ship.

Mr. Boers grew up in Irondequoit, N.Y, a suburb of Rochester. He studied horticulture and landscape architecture at Cornell University and graduated with a bachelor of science degree. He pursued a graduate degree at the University of Michigan, and during his first year, he was recruited by Toledo to do park design on a seasonal basis.

His parents were not in a position to continue to pay for his education, so in his second year of study he continued to work for the city of Toledo, Mr. Peterson said. He so impressed the head of the department that he was offered a permanent position, Mr. Peterson said. In 1965, at the age of 25, Mr. Boers became the youngest forestry division commissioner in Toledo's history and the youngest commissioner in the country.

A sign in his office summed up who he was, said Mr. Peterson: "There is no limit to what a man can do or where he can go if he doesn't mind who gets the credit."

There are no immediate survivors.

The date and time of funeral services, which are planned to be held at the Toledo Botanical Garden, are pending.

Contact Marlene Harris-Taylor at: [email protected] or 419-724-6091.

Published by The Blade on Oct. 4, 2013.

Memories and Condolences
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11 Entries

You will be missed, Uncle Dick. Kathy & Kevin Kuron

October 8, 2013

Dick was one of the kindest men I have ever met. You always felt right at home with him the instant he started speaking with that wonderfully warm deep voice of his. His vision, common sense and artistic eye is a huge loss to the city of Toledo. Thankfully, he has left much for us to remember what a marvelous talent he was. I miss your uplifting e-mails. May God's Great Grace be with your family for I know the Lord already has you working on a landscape in your corner of heaven.

Cathy Mott

October 7, 2013

Dick was one of "Toledo's Treasures" in government. He was a
true "gentleman" with class, dignity, and talent. He will long
be remembered and missed.

Donna Owens

October 7, 2013

With deepest sympathy to the family during your time of sorrow. God is for us a refuge and strength. (Psalms 91:2) May you find the needed strength from God, family and friends.

Vanessa

October 6, 2013

It was a privilege to have Richard as an overseas friend - always enjoyed our email contacts from time to time. A man always friendly in words and as a person and always willing to help me out. My thoughts are with his family and left behind partner. Will miss him

Wout de Lagh

October 6, 2013

Of the many I've met in my life few embodied the spirit and sheer joy of this state of being as much as my dear friend Richard "Dick" Boers who died yesterday.

He of our loose and delightful Friday lunch social gatherings, the man who fought for beauty and life and art in Toledo. He left a legacy of hundreds of acres of riverfront parkland, thousands and thousands of shade trees and street trees, and his treasured Crosby Park (the Toledo Botanical Garden).

The friend who sent me birthday cards every year (addressed to "Mikey") and who shared hours on the telephone on all matters of design and beauty and life.

Toledo might not know what has been lost. I'm not sure I can fully comprehend what Dick meant to the very essence of all that he did for a medium sized swampy town on the banks of a grand river and the shores of a great lake.

I only know he touched so many people in positive ways and left a legacy of profound impact on thousands he never met and who still don't know his name.

In an era of out-sized egos only too eager to claim unearned credit reflexively, we had the blessing of a true humble man of real character who did great things with grace and class and touching tenderness.

He will fight no more.

God I miss him.

Michael Young

October 5, 2013

My family and I greatly appreciate the results of Mr. Boer's efforts. "Crosby Gardens" (as it is known in our family) has been a part of our lives since as long as we can remember. My wedding was held there and we go almost once a week to visit, even in the winter. We have attended many events there, shopped in the workshops and visited the lithopone museum. It is truly an integral part of our family. Rest in Peace Richard Boer and thank you for helping to truly enrich our lives with the results of your passions.

Lisa Lewandowski

October 5, 2013

Richard was not only a fine asset to the City of Toledo, but to all of the people who worked with him each step of the way, He was always a friend to all who met him. He will be missed but always remembered,

Ray Norris

October 4, 2013

I always thought of Dick as the 'godfather' of public sculpture in Toledo. We have lost a man of true vision and great passion.

Ken Thompson

October 4, 2013

There is not a kinder, more gracious person on the planet. He always made me feel like he sincerely cared about me. He was always interested in what was going on in my life. Dicks keen sense of humor was just one more reason he was fun to be around. I will miss him dearly.

Dave Smith

October 4, 2013

Dick was a great asset to the city of Toledo. He wanted what was best for the citizens to enjoy the environment. I enjoyed his presence at various committee meetings. He was a fellow city employee who did his job extremely well.

Bernadette Barth

October 4, 2013

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