Teacher, music director and conductor, beloved husband
Dennis F. Boyle passed away peacefully at home on Wednesday, September 25, 2024.
Son of John F. (Frank) and Rose (Juchter) Boyle, Dennis was the beloved husband of Diane Erbeck Boyle. They were married for 40 years and have lived in Linden, NJ, since 1991.
Born in Brooklyn, NY, on February 3, 1948, Dennis grew up in Scotch Plains, NJ, from the age of four. He attended St. Bartholomew School in Scotch Plains and was Salutatorian of the first graduating class of Union Catholic Boys High School (1966). In 2017 Dennis was the inaugural recipient of the newly established Arts Award when he was inducted into the Union Catholic Hall of Fame.
Dennis received a Bachelor of Arts in Music (cum laude) at Montclair State University, and both a Master of Education and a Music Supervisor's Certificate in Music at The College of New Jersey.
He taught for 44 years at a wide variety of levels: Union Township Elementary and Junior High School, Highland Park Middle School and High School, East Brunswick High School, Seton Hall University, and Rutgers Preparatory School in Somerset.
Dennis founded and served as Music Director and Conductor of the Woodlyn Chorale in Linden, was Assistant Conductor of the Summit Chorale, founding Music Director and Conductor of the Highland Park Community Chorus, and both founded and directed Diaden, a semi-professional chamber choir. Dennis was also the Artistic Director and Conductor of Philomusica Chamber Choir, based in Middlesex County, for 39 years.
In addition to sharing a love of music, Dennis and Diane enjoyed traveling. Many summers were spent attending concerts at Tanglewood in the Berkshires and cruising the East Coast. Boulder, CO and Whitefish, MT (near Glacier National Park) also held special memories, as did singing in the Hawaiian International Choral Festival in Oahu.
Visitation will be held Friday, September 27, 2:00 – 4:00 and 7:00 – 9:00 PM at Rossi Funeral Home, 1937 Westfield Avenue, Scotch Plains, NJ. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, September 28 at 10:30 AM at St. Bartholomew the Apostle Roman Catholic Church, 2032 Westfield Avenue, Scotch Plains, immediately followed by interment at St. Gertrude Cemetery in Colonia. The Funeral Mass will be livestreamed. For further information or to leave an online condolence message please visit www.therossifuneralhome.com
As an expression of sympathy, please consider making a donation to the Dennis Boyle Scholarship at the John J. Cali School of Music of Montclair State University. Donations can be made payable to Philomusica (add "Dennis Boyle Scholarship" on the memo line) and mailed to Philomusica, P.O. Box 6032, East Brunswick, NJ 08816.
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