Frederick James Boss

Frederick James Boss, age 81, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on December 30, 2024 from complications related to Parkinson's disease. He was the husband to Cheryl for 53 years; dad to Karen, Susan, and Stephen; papa to Sonia, Sage, Olive, and Morgan (who he taught to love NECCO wafers); brother to John, Barbara, and Peter; father-in-law to Suneel and Carolyn; and a friend to many. Everyone who met him quickly learned what a good guy he was. We're bereft that he's gone and grateful that his suffering is over.
He taught in the Chelmsford schools for more than a decade and then worked for DJ Reardon Company for 25 years. (He taught auto school and was an ice-cream man one summer, too!) He grew up in Manchester, NH, and Lowell and attended Keith Academy, St. Anselm's College, and Boston State. He spent summers at Cobbetts Pond in New Hampshire where he waterskied and enjoyed a large circle of friends and family. With many of those same friends, he strapped on snow skis at Mount Snow in Vermont, first partying their faces off, then later teaching their own kids how to schuss down the slopes as part of The Village---friends and family spending seasonal time together. He skied until he was in his 70s.
When he and Cheryl married (on a snowy day in November), they decided then and there to create a stable home for themselves and their children, and they did it together. He insisted his kids learn their times tables, if not in school, then in summer bootcamp with him. He gave his kids ledger books, teaching them budgeting at an early age. (They trembled when he announced a surprise evening "ledger book check!" It worked, though. They're all good with money.) He taught all three of his kids to drive a car. He supported Cheryl no matter what she was doing and had a more exciting life because he agreed to go on most of the adventures she dreamed up. No matter when Johnny Horton's 1959 hit, "The Battle of New Orleans," came on, he stood up and belted it out at the top of his lungs. Usually with a vodka martini, straight up with a couple of olives, in his hand. He knew that hot dogs are the best after-the-bar-closes snack. He entertained whoever was around with a "froggy dive" off the diving board. Nobody ever had a birthday with Fred there who didn't get his signature "And mannnnny mooooore!" at the end of their song. He loved Vermont, especially Mount Snow; Houston, watching two grandchildren grow up; Cobbetts Pond in New Hampshire; and Maine, especially Long Island in Casco Bay. He loved his family more than possible to measure---a bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck. And we loved him back.
Visiting Hours will be held on Thursday, January 2, 2025 from 4pm to 7pm at the BLAKE CHELMSFORD FUNERAL HOME, 24 Worthen Street, CHELMSFORD. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, January 3, 2025, at 9am at Saint Mary's Church, 25 North Road, Chelmsford. KINDLY GATHER AT THE CHURCH. Interment will be held privately.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Crazy Horse Memorial. In 2000, Fred and his oldest daughter, Karen, drove cross-country from LA to Boston. After Mount Rushmore, they visited the in-progress memorial to the Lakota/Oglala warrior---Fred has made donations ever since. www.crazyhorsememorial.org or donate to the charity of your choice.