Bradford Lewis Boynton

1914 - 2013

SOUTH CONWAY - Bradford Lewis Boynton of South Conway, died peacefully Saturday, Oct. 5, 2013.

Born in 1914 in Andover, Mass., Brad attended the Phillips Andover Academy. An avid outdoorsman, he became an early devotee of skiing, frequenting New Hampshire's Eastern Slope Region during his college years. There he met his wife, Carol Baird Johnson, on the Boston snow train. They married in 1938.

During the years before Second World War he worked as a ski instructor and managed the first ski shop in the region for Saks Fifth Avenue. When war broke out, he became an officer in the 10th Mountain Division serving in Italy. On returning from the war, Brad took over the family business, the American Hydrolan Corporation. In 1975 Brad and Carol began managing the Wildcat Inn and Tavern in Jackson. In Jackson, Brad established a center for cross-country skiing, which would utilize the town's mountainous terrain and the existing businesses in the area. This became known as the Jackson Ski Touring Foundation, where he served as a board member and president many years. Brad and Carol were involved in various land conservation efforts around Conway Lake, and Brad served as a board member of the Walkers' Pond Conservation Society. With others, Brad was instrumental in introducing practices to better protect the lake, its fish, loons and other wildlife, lobbying for improved lake shore protection legislation.

One of Brad's greatest enjoyments was passing on to his grandchildren his love of the lake through teaching them to fish and sail.

Bradford is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Lucy Boynton and Henry Lie; two grandchildren, Lucy Lie and Charles Davidson, and Charles' wife Phoebe and their daughter Beatrice.

He was predeceased by his wife of 75 years, Carol Boynton; his brothers, Kellogg and Donald; his son, Bradford L. Boynton Jr.; and his grandson, Colin Baird Davidson.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, Dec. 7, at 1:30 p.m. at the Jackson Village Church with a reception following at the Wentworth Inn.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the Upper Saco Valley Land Trust, PO Box 424, North Conway, NH 03860, or to the Walker's Pond Water Conservation Society, PO Box 803, Center Conway, NH 03813.