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Brian Richard Boylan

Brian Boylan Obituary

Boylan, Brian Richard
Age 68
Of Mpls.
Reception 4-5:30 Friday, October 21, 2005, at THE THOMSON-DOUGHERTY MANSION 2535 Park Ave. Complete notice in tomorrow's paper.
Historic Thomson-Dougherty
612-871-4407

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Pioneer Press on Oct. 19, 2005.

Memories and Condolences
for Brian Boylan

18 Entries

Scott Boylan

May 10, 2006

You were a good Grandpa, and a good man. You progressed in life by innovating your environment, and by doing what your heart desired. In life you had achieved much, and in death you inspire.

larry leighton

April 30, 2006

I just found out we lost you, Brian. It was a shock. We had some good times, you and I. I only wish we could have had some more.

Lyndon Barsten

March 7, 2006

Rest in peace Brian. Our great dreams never quite blossomed.

Bill Jones

November 26, 2005

Cousin Brian and I communicated by email. We only met once when I was a pallbearer at his mother's funeral at Arlington National Cemetery. Prior to my last trip to our grandfather's home in Ireland, he asked me to bring him a key fob with the head of St. Oliver of Drogheda. It was not available, but I took a photo of the head (which hangs in the church), framed it and sent it to him. He seemed to accept it instead of the fob.

We always clashed with his liberal and my libertarian views of life. No blood was spilt.

Cousin Bill Jones

Merlie Boylan

November 17, 2005

I have met Brian only once when his older brother, Frank Boylan, who is my husband, took me to Minnesotta to meet his family way back 1984. I did not have much time to talk to him, but through the years, when he calls his brother, I always ended up talking to him more since his brother is either out or at work. We always have a good conversation, and I was very comfortable talking to him. He has such intellect and knowledge that you can talk to him endlessly. We will miss you Brian. I wish my children had met you, and I'm sure they would have had the best of time talking to you. I tell them the funny stories that Frank has told me. Merlie Boylan, Acton, California

Richard Greenwald

November 7, 2005

Brian, wherever you are, you gave more than you took. I miss your crackly voice and sharp criticism. You probably did more for everyone you knew than most folks will ever do. Recalling some theologic dialogue-I think you went North.

You will be missed.

Dr and Mrs Richard Greenwald

Mary Van Deusen

November 2, 2005

I met Brian while searching for an agent, and I found a friend. I heard about his daily life and his children and his health. I worried about him and cared about all of you through him. He was oe of the special souls of this world, which is far poorer for his loss.

Janice Cauwels

November 2, 2005

Brian and I thought nothing of speaking over the phone two or three times a day; he was the one friend with whom I could be perfectly honest because nothing was too intimate for either of us to say. Ironically he was also the reason that I finally escaped from Minneapolis and returned home, having feared at one point that he really meant what he said about leaving for New York . . . as he continued to declare for decades.

Upon the death of his friend Bob many years ago, Brian announced that he was going into exile for a few days. When this retreat failed to console him, he wrote a hilariously obscene obituary for their friend Myron, printed it on gray paper with a black border, and sent it to him. According to Brian, Myron showed the obituary to Bob’s widow Carole, who burst out laughing, called Brian, and demanded some copies for herself.

Perhaps we ought to follow this example of invoking humor to help us cope with our loss: the Rev. Dr. Boylan will live on not only in my gratitude and affection but also in his gift of hilarity.

Rita Boylan

October 30, 2005

You were the Father of my three beautiful children and I thank you for that, dear Brian.

Alan Abrams

October 30, 2005

An old friend from High School days at Loyola Academy in Chicago. Rest In Peace.

Tom Baumgartner

October 30, 2005

Brian and I first met in September of 1974 when I auditioned for a play, "Cat Among The Pigeons" by Feydeaux, that he was directing at Theater 1900 in the Plymouth Congregational Church on LaSalle Ave. in Minneapolis. "An Off Off-Broadway Production". We just "clicked" and for the last 31 years shared irreverent laughs and lively conversation about anything and everything. He was a very unique talent in many ways and an excellent writer. I will miss our get togethers. We had so much fun.

Jim Ryan

October 30, 2005

I was a classmate of Brian's at Loyola Academy (1950-1954). I hadn't seen or heard from him for about 45 years. But then a couple of years ago we began exchanging emails as part of planning reunions of a small group of his friends. Unfortunately I never got to see Brian face-to-face during this period. But I greatly enjoyed his interesting emails and the various newspaper and magazine articles he would send me. I was quite saddened to hear of his passing. Our small group was planning a reunion next spring in Minneapolis. Now we'll have to wait to see him in another time and place. Brian was quite a unique individual and we will all miss him. Rest in peace, Brian. The world will always know you were here.

Edwin Buckley

October 30, 2005

I was very sorry to hear of Brian's death. Please accept my sympathy. Brian sat in front of me for most of our four years at Loyola Academy. While we have not been close since graduation from high school, we reconnected a few years ago in Minneapolis at Loyola Academy gathering and we have stayed in touch by means of e-mail. I will keep Brian in my prayers.

Jeff Wold

October 21, 2005

Dear Becky, Bob, Laura & Kristen:

I am sorry about the loss of your Father and Grandfather.

To say that Brian was somewhat of a character would be putting it mildly. All the much better, I say, because Brian was truly a unique person who had his own special view of the world.

The thing I remember best about Brian was his willingness to engage almost anyone in a conversation, and his equal willingness to listen. Whenever I would see him, he would always ask me about my life, etc. I was just a kid, but Brian always showed an interest in what I was doing, and more importantly shared with me what he was working on in his life. He was a master at bringing out the details.

I am lucky to have known him, and I know he will be greatly missed.

Greg Envey

October 21, 2005

I've only known Mr Boylan the past 2 years. I was struck by his continued interests and will to achieve. He reminds me that there is so much to do & so little time. I will miss Brian & the work he would have done.

Terri Gram

October 20, 2005

Dear Becky, Greg, Ingrid, Mary:

I am so sorry for your loss. Why is it that we're never ready when someone we love leaves us??

Brian touched my life as he touched many others.

His silly, fun-loving personality will remain in our memories.

You are all in our thoughts and prayers.

Terri, Jeff, Charlie, Patrick, Latha and Hanna Gram

Greg and Angela Boylan

October 20, 2005

This past summer when my father first went into the hospital and we were all told he would not make it throught the night, I found this poem written on a small piece of paper. This poem speaks from our hearts. Its called:

THE BROKEN CHAIN.

WE LITTLE KNEW THAT MORNING THAT GOD WAS GOING TO CALL YOUR NAME.

IN LIFE WE LOVED YOU DEARLY, IN DEATH WE DO THE SAME. IT BROKE OUR HEARTS TO LOSE YOU,

YOU DID NOT GO ALONE; FOR PART OF US WENT WITH YOU, THE DAY GOD CALLED YOU HOME.

YOU LEFT US PEACEFUL MEMORIES, YOUR LOVE IS STILL OUR GUIDE; AND THOUGH WE CANNOT SEE YOU, YOU ARE ALWAYS AT OUR SIDE. OUR FAMILY CHAIN IS BROKEN, AND NOTHING SEEMS THE SAME; BUT AS GOD CALLS US ONE BY ONE, THE CHAIN WILL LINK AGAIN.

authur unknown.

Until we meet again in Heaven Dad

Your Son

Dad on Newgard Ave, Chicago 1940 & 2005

Ingrid Keltz

October 19, 2005

These two pictures of my Dad are both taken on Newgard Ave. in Chicago. The first is about 1940 and the next is April 2005.

I spent 10 days with Dad in Chicago this last April. We went to visit the neighborhood he grew up in and he really had a fun time revisiting all these places. From the looks of the picture, it doesn’t look like the neighborhood changed all that much in the last 65 years. Dad’s old school was still there, and we were able to take a tour of the church he grew up in. Dad and I had a fun time together and I got to know him better during our trip. I learned fascinating things about him and his life that I had never known before. I’m so thankful that we were able to spend that time together.

I think I’m going to miss my Dad most when I need a friend. He’s always been available to listen to my tales of woe, and he’s never been judgmental. He put up with some hard times and was always able to offer helpful “been there, done that” advice.

It is heartbreaking and painful now to think he’s no longer a phone call or email away. I miss my friend, my Dad.

- Ingrid

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