Douglas P. Boyea

Douglas P. Boyea, 98, of Plainville, widower of Ruthe (Wright) Boyea, died Nov. 19, 2010, at the Hospital of Central Connecticut in New Britain.

He was born in Ellensberg, N.Y., he lived in New Britain since 1955, moving to Plainville in 2003. He was a 1941 graduate of Springfield College and received a master's degree from New York University. A World War II U.S. Army veteran, he was stationed in Virginia, Alaska and Germany. He served as health and physical education director of the Pittsfield, Mass. YMCA, the Railroad YMCA in New York City, and the New Britain YMCA, where he was the longest tenured member, joining in 1924. While at the New Britain YMCA, he helped develop the sport of "Paddle Racket" now known as racquetball. In 1967, he received the Roberts-Gulick Memorial Award as National YMCA Physical Educator. After retiring from the YMCA in 1969, he went on to teach physical education at Benjamin Franklin and Vance Schools in New Britain, retiring in 1979. While with the YMCA, he had the opportunity to travel. He was a fencing judge in the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinski, Finland, and also attended the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City with other YMCA professionals. He was a member of a delegation of YMCA professionals to tour YMCAs around the world. Photography was his hobby as he continued to travel throughout the U.S. and the world with his wife, Ruthe, during his retirement. He was a member of South Church in New Britain, was an associate member of the Congregational Church of Plainville, and also belonged to the New Britain Camera Club, the Country Camera Club of Berlin, The Live Y'ers of the New Britain YMCA, and the Photographic Society of America.

He is survived by his son, Douglas Boyea Jr. and his wife, Gail, of Pittsburgh; a daughter, Ruthe Boiczyk and her husband, Edward, of Plainville; five grandchildren, Ericka Fangiullo and her husband, Mark, of Windsor, Mary Westkott and her husband, Mark, of Waterford, Katherine Boiczyk, of New Hartford, Keith Boyea and his fiancee, Nicole, of Washington, D.C., and Luke Boyea and his wife, Sarah, of Dallas; and four great-grandsons. Besides his wife Ruthe, he was predeceased by a brother, Kenneth Boyea and a sister, Ruthe LeGier.

The funeral was held Nov. 26, 2010, at Carlson Funeral Home, New Britain. A memorial service was held Nov. 27, 2010, at the Congregational Church of Plainville, Plainville. Memorial donations may be made to New Britain YMCA World Service, 50 High St., New Britain, CT 06051.