Hudson – James C. Boyd, 72, of Hudson, died Monday, Aug. 27, 2012 at UMass Memorial Hospital.
He was born Feb. 14, 1940 in Royal Oak, Michigan, to Hugh and Esther (Baughman) Boyd, and was also raised by his stepmother, Marjorie Markham-Boyd.
He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Valerie (Remeis) Boyd. He leaves his children, Deborah Boisvert and her husband, David, of Hudson; Patricia Cariveau and her husband, Stephen, of Hudson; and James Boyd of Stow. He leaves his four grandchildren, Zachary and Adam Cariveau and Alexandra and Patrick Boisvert. He also leaves his brothers, John Boyd and his wife Marilyn, of Ann Arbor, Michigan and Hugh Boyd and his wife, Amy of Montclair, New Jersey, and several nieces and nephews.
He was brought up in Stoneham and graduated from Stoneham High School in 1958. He graduated from Plymouth State College in 1963 and received his M.Ed from Salem State College. He taught sixth grade in Burlington; was an elementary principal in Hillsboro, N.H.; and assistant superintendent in Ludlow, Vt., before settling in Hudson. He was a principal in Hudson for 30 years and retired from the Farley School.
As a principal, his favorite moments were when proud students came to his office to display their new-found reading skills. The joy he received from seeing the look of achievement on their faces was the reason he became an educator.
However, his proudest achievement and greatest joy were the times were spent with his family. He loved to go camping and fishing with his family, and instilled a family first value system. He supported everything his children did, and rarely, if ever, missed a band concert, school play, or a multitude of sporting events to include field hockey, basketball, baseball and track.
Even after he and his wife retired, he continued the supportive role by attending events for his four grandchildren. He went to all in-school celebrations and in addition to basketball and track; he started watching football, hockey, lacrosse, and numerous dance recitals. He coached numerous Little League teams, and he continued working with young athletes by helping coach his three grandson's Recreational Basketball teams. He truly enjoyed watching all Hudson High athletics teams.
Despite supporting his children and grandchildren, Jim and his wife did find time for themselves. They loved to travel and see new places. They were able to explore the United States, Australia, and New Zealand. They especially enjoyed letting their son play tour guide when they went to the U.S. Virgin Islands.
A funeral service will be held Friday, Aug. 31, at 11:00 a.m., in the Tighe-Hamilton Funeral Home, 50 Central St., Hudson. Burial will follow at Saint Michael's Cemetery of Hudson. Calling hours will be held Thursday, Aug. 30, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m., at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Mr. Boyd may be made to either the Joslin Diabetes Center, 1 Joslin Place, Suite 745, Boston, MA 02215 (www.joslin.org) or the National Gaucher Foundation, 2227 Idlewood Rd., Suite 6, Tucker, GA 30084 (www.gaucherdisease.org.
