JOHN JOSEPH "JACK" BOYLE Jr.

1930 - 2025

BOYLE, John Joseph "Jack" Jr. "Make Good Things Happen!" John Joseph "Jack" Boyle Jr. passed away peacefully on April 8, 2025. A uniquely focused and disciplined man who approached everything with resolve, Jack was taught to believe that to whom much is given, much is expected. He was raised to be a leader of men and proved that, with effort, people will rise to the level of expectation. Born in Belmont, MA, in 1930, Jack was the eldest of six children, a standout athlete, a successful entrepreneur and a relentlessly positive person who thoroughly embraced both the duty and the joy of life. He cherished family above all else, especially his role as a father. Jack attended St. Sebastian's School on scholarship, where he was class salutatorian, president of the class of '48, captain of the football team, a baseball player and a standout on the hockey team. He then accepted a Navy ROTC scholarship to attend Dartmouth College, where he played hockey, captained the golf team and served as president of Psi Upsilon fraternity. Upon graduating in 1952, Jack served as a lieutenant and assistant navigator aboard the USS Missouri, the flagship battleship of the 7th Fleet during the Korean War. After the war ended, he entered the material handling equipment business - soon deciding to be his own boss and take full agency over his outcomes. While his Ivy League peers were climbing the corporate ladder, Jack was deliberately competing in a "small pond." He never referred to his employees as such - they were colleagues - and most stayed with him for decades. Jack was a sharp dresser who shined his shoes every morning and wore a suit and tie to work, to church and even when flying, including on vacation. He'd often say, "The key to success is a four-letter word: W-O-R-K!" His smartest decision, he often said, was to woo and marry Dolores "Dodie" Summa - an energetic and stunning actor, model and salesperson of Italian descent, who brought color and vibrancy to his life. Together, they raised four sons who are forever grateful to have inherited the best of both parents. Jack built a great life for his family, raising the boys in Wayland, MA, with summers at a house on Nauset Beach on Cape Cod and, later, winters in the Harbour Ridge golf community in Florida. He was a member of the Weston Golf Club for over 50 years and loved playing in the summer twilight league. In 1995, Jack sold the business and moved into a corner condominium in the Charlestown Navy Yard, overlooking the Korean War Memorial and the dry dock to which his ship had returned post-Korea. He and Dodie lived there for twenty-five years before moving to Newton to be closer to family. Jack was known for his aphorisms: "Make good things happen!" "God does not make junk." "What you do, do well." "If you aren't going to give it your all, you might as well just lay down." He demanded excellence, and while living up to his expectations could be a challenge, it was always worth it. In retirement, Jack remained insistent on being well-informed - especially about economics, politics and the purpose of life. He was a voracious reader of newspapers and nonfiction books. He supported the underdog, preferred the road less traveled, and did things his own way. He was often the life of the party - quick to tell stories, smile and laugh. A faithful Catholic, Jack attended Mass weekly and took pride in his brother being a Jesuit priest. In retirement, he focused on living "in the now," relishing the role of grandfather. He was surprised to live into his 90s, saying he'd already "taken the W" and was now "just playing an exhibition game for fun." His final words, repeated like a mantra, were: "Thank you, thank you, thank you." Jack was predeceased by his beloved wife, Dodie Boyle; his brother, Father Ed Boyle, SJ; and his sisters, Patricia Coughlan and Suzanne Doherty. He is survived by his sister, Mary Lee Pelosky; brother, Gerard Boyle; and four sons, John Boyle and wife, Mary, Edward Boyle and wife, Cameron, James Boyle and wife, Hanna and David Boyle and wife, Oselinda. He is survived by eight grandchildren, Giovanna, Jeikson, Jack, Rocco, Elena, James, Sophia and Henry. Visitation will be held on Friday, April 25, from 4–7 p.m., at John C. Bryant Funeral Home, 56 Pemberton Rd., Wayland, MA. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, April 26, at 10:30 a.m., at St. Ann Church, 124 Cochituate Rd., Wayland, MA. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Jack's honor to the Boys and Girls Club of Boston, which Jack and Dodie supported for decades, bgcb.org/donate For more information, visit: johncbryantfuneralhome.com

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