Michael Powers Boyle

Michael Powers Boyle

Greenfield, MA - Michael Powers Boyle, 78, of Greenfield, MA died unexpectedly on Sunday, June 11, 2023 at Baystate Medical Center, Springfield, MA surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Cambridge, MA on August 21, 1944, the son of William F. and Grace (Powers) Boyle. Michael, with two brothers and a sister, grew up in Southington, CT. After high school he attended the Culinary Institute of America, then on the Yale Campus, graduating in 1964 with an Advanced Chef's Degree, of which he was most proud; subsequently awarded an Associate Degree of Occupational Studies in 1974. Michael held multiple restaurant positions, before joining the Marriott Corp. as Manager, Restaurant Division in 1966, and before deciding to continue his education in 1969.

He attended UMass/Amherst, graduating with a B.A. in 1973, gradually shifting his focus from the food service industry, to the passion of his later life, labor relations and worker representation. He enrolled in the UMass Graduate Program in Labor Relations in 1974. While in graduate school he became a union organizer, then a Business Agent for AFSCME, Council #41/(#93) (1975), and for SEIU, AFL-CIO, Local 509 (1977). In 1980 he joined the MA Joint Labor Management Committee for Municipal Police and Fire (JLMC) as a Mediator/Arbitrator for Labor, a position he held thru 1995, then moved to the MA Board of Conciliation and Arbitration (BCA) (1995-2010). Following retirement from State service, he continued on as Chief Negotiator for NAGE (IBPO), (2010-2016) travelling to finalize police contracts at military bases across the USA. Michael spent his 40-year professional career advocating for the rights, compensation, and benefits of everyday working people, and successfully negotiated hundreds of collective bargaining agreements, and mediated countless grievances to fair resolutions, for police, firefighter, and teacher unions, among others, and would do it all over again if able.

Apart from work, Michael taught at the George Meany Institute for Labor Studies and University of New Hampshire, and was member of AAA, SPIDR, IRRA and the Labor Guild of Boston.

Michael also had many interests: first and foremost-cooking and baking. He enjoyed traveling and family road trips, many with unique adventures, off the path restaurants, antiquing, historical sites, museums, National Parks and places of natural beauty; and fun places-Maine, the Big E, Sturbridge, Kimball Farm, Disney World--ultimately providing lifelong memories for his family. Surprising to some, he was an ardent fan of early cowboy/western movies (Hoot Gibson, Hopalong Cassidy, Gene Audrey, Roy Rogers, and of course, John Wayne); and his music choices ranged from Mel Torme, to Willy Nelson, the Blues Brothers and Paul Simon.

He had a quick wit and unique sense of humor, was an incredibly loving husband, father and grandfather, heavily involved in many aspects of his daughters and grandchildren's lives, providing guidance and support at every stage of life. He was deeply loved and cherished by his family, and will be tremendously missed.

Besides his beloved wife of 58 years, Theresa L. (Brown) Boyle, who he asked to the Senior Prom in 1962, married three years later, and together in love, went on to enjoy a life full of great adventures; Michael leaves two daughters, Judith L. Pierce and her husband David J. of Sunderland, MA, and Maureen E. Ryan of Longmeadow, MA; and five grandchildren, Abigail V.P. Pierce of Amherst, MA, Ruairi M.D. Pierce of Boston, MA, Liam A. Ryan of Amherst, MA, and Maeve E. Ryan and Fiona G. Ryan, both of Longmeadow, MA.

Besides his parents, Michael was preceded in death by his sister, Jane M. (Boyle) Knowles of Madison, WI; 2 brothers, William F. Boyle, II of Concord, CA, and Gerald T. Boyle of Plantsville, CT; and a nephew, Sean P. Boyle of Thomaston, CT.

Funeral services will be private. Burial will be held at the convenience of the family.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, www.give.michaeljfox.org; or the Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park, New York, CIA Scholarship Fund; www.ciachef.edu

Arrangements are under the direction of the Kostanski Funeral Home. For condolences, please visit www.kostanskifuneralhome.com.