Collin Patrick Boyce

Collin Patrick Boyce was born November 7, 1971, to proud parents Joan (Garbarino) Boyce and Daniel Francis Boyce (deceased). The first-born son, he always played a leading role. Collin paved the way with courage, strength, mischief, and jokes. He had a special gift for doling out silly and endearing nicknames, and he did so with gusto. He lovingly tortured his little sisters Katie (Dan Ebert) and Eileen (Brad Bland) Boyce growing up and was there for his family whenever they needed him. Collin was a giant in our lives and always will be.
Sports played a significant role in Collin's life. A baseball player at heart, he thrived at Marquette University High School and walked on to the team at Michigan State University. Life tested Collin many times, but especially in college. He valiantly beat Hodgkin's disease when he was just 21 years old. He moved home to Milwaukee from East Lansing for cancer treatments, teaching us one of his most profound life lessons. He never complained, never gave up, and joked his way through it all. We will keep cheering for his beloved White Sox, Brewers, MSU Spartans, and Marquette Golden Eagles.
Life really began when Collin married up (he would agree, we all would) on May 6, 2000. Collin was immediately enamored with the brilliant and beautiful Margaret (Huebner) Boyce. Margaret's strength, patience, and intelligence were a perfect match for Collin, bringing him nearly 25 years of laughter and joy with "The Squeeze." Collin's heart grew four sizes when Brigid Dwyer, Michael Patrick, Declan James, and Aidan Donald arrived. He lived for his children and wasn't ready to leave them. But "Toots," Michael "The King", "Decky Stu," and "Cheech" can confidently say their Dad was their biggest fan.
Collin influenced countless lives. He loved Margaret's family like his own. He found brothers in his many "cousins" and was their jester-in-chief. He made real connections with his many aunts and uncles. He adored his friends. He doted on his many nieces and nephews. He was proud of his Irish heritage. He loved his work. He fell in love with big cities. Chicago was home and New York was an old friend. He left his mark.
Collin loved life and deserved so much more of it. His spark and positive attitude will live inside everyone who knew him. We know he will be stuck like glue to Margaret and the kids each and every day. He wouldn't have it any other way. Collin is preceded in death by his father Dan, his father-in-law Donald, and Margaret's mother, Margaret Mary (Dwyer) Huebner.
We are forever grateful to the medical staff who supported Collin through two heroic cancer journeys. Thank you to Collin's colleagues at Bank of America Merrill Lynch whose grace and understanding helped the Boyce family fight this battle together. And most of all, we are grateful for Margaret and "Baroni" (a classic Collin nickname), who never left his side.
We will honor Collin at a funeral mass on Saturday, March 22, 2025, at St. Giles Church, 1025 Columbian Avenue, Oak Park at 12:30 PM. A visitation will be held the evening before on Friday, March 21, 2025, from 3:00 - 8:00 PM at Salerno Galewood Chapels, 1857 N. Harlem Avenue, Chicago.
In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Boyce Children Education Fund would be greatly appreciated and may be made via check or GoFundMe: Boyce Children Education Fund