It is with deep sadness that the family of Robert Boylan announce his death just a week shy of his 84th birthday. He passed away peacefully in the early hours of October 31, 2024.
He leaves behind to mourn, his wife Jean of 57 years and 4 children, Cynthia Mills of Wawa, ON (Blair), Kevin Boylan of Guelph, ON (Mary), Ellen Hunt of Burlington, ON (Vince), and Anne Boylan of Miramichi, NB.
A source of great pride to him were his 7 grandchildren, Bryan and Neil Mills, Josie and Megan Boylan, Colin and Grace Hunt, and Emma Boylan.
He is pre-deceased by his father Carroll Boylan and his mother Margaret (née Morris). Bob was the third child of 5, the oldest his sister Sheila (Froese) of Newmarket, ON, and 3 brothers, Charles of Truro, NS, Micheal of Victoria, BC and Terry of Atlin, BC.
Bob’s early years were spent in Halifax, Nictaux Falls and Middleton, NS. A Bachelor of Science in Geology from St. Francis Xavier University opened his world to a career in mining. Starting in Springdale, NL as a geologist, he advanced to Mine Manager with Nigadoo River Mines where he also met his future wife, Jean Duguay, with whom he started his family.
The next adventure took him to Labrador City and a stint with the IOC, then it was off to Northern Ontario where he had a long run at Campbell Red Lake Mines. His final mining challenge was as Mine Manager at Magino Mines in Wawa, ON.
His retirement took him back to Bathurst, NB, where he enjoyed his final years. Bob found enjoyment in golfing, curling, and several winters in Florida.
When you think of Bob as a person, many different things come to mind depending on what stage of life you knew him. Athletic, his early years filled with track and field, rugby and pole vaulting in particular, with records still unbeaten to this day. Competent, putting health and safety as his top priority when it came to those he was responsible for at the various mines he worked. Great sense of humor, loved to laugh and loved a good joke, even at his own expense.
As his extended family and friends reached out on the news of his passing, many shared their impressions of and experiences they had had with Bob. Words like kind, gentle, warm, welcoming, were a common description.
One of the most touching notes sent to his wife, Jean, was from Bob’s nephew, Patrick Boylan. His description of Bob’s nature perfectly captured: “His soft-spoken nature, warm and welcoming personality, and his stories about his years as a geologist in the gold mines complete with a small vial of rocks that contained gold, I was captivated!”.
Bob’s curiosity about the composition of things extended beyond what was in the ground. He was an avid learner of history and nature, but his interests were not limited to the Terra Ferma. He was always fascinated by our galaxy and what lay beyond. As a person of faith, this fascination was a natural fit. On this new journey, may he be experiencing his most profound exploration.
To know him was to love him, and that his family did. He will be deeply missed, but we look forward to the years ahead, of sharing our most cherished memories of him.
The family will receive relatives and friends on Monday, November 4, 2024 from 7-9 p.m. at Elhatton Funeral Home (www.elhatton.com). A funeral mass will be celebrated on Tuesday morning at 11 a.m. from Holy Family Church, St. Peter Ave. Donations in memory of Robert may be made to Holy Family Church or a charity of your choice.
