PORTLAND – Francis Leo Boyle Jr., formerly of Westbrook, died Fri-day, Sept. 14, 2007, after a brief illness. Leo Boyle was born June 7, 1925, in Portland, son of Francis Leo Sr. and Teresa M. Boyle. A 1943 graduate of Deering High School, Boyle served in the Army Infantry during World War II in Europe, where he received a Purple Heart and earned a Bronze Star Medal for heroic action under enemy fire. He attended Purdue University and graduated from the University of Maine. In 1948, he married Elizabeth Ann “Betty” Pryor of Lafayette, Ind., and became a sales representative for Liberty Mutual Insurance Co., Portland. In 1965, he purchased Jones Book Shop, 611 Congress St., and ran his beloved bookstore with friend and business partner, Priscilla Shaw, for more than 15 years. During this time, he appeared as a book reviewer on local television and in 1967 founded with friends the Maine Aviation Historical Society. Leo was passionate about flying from early childhood, when his parents brought him to his uncle’s farm in Stroudwater and to Old Orchard Beach on weekends to watch planes take off and land. Throughout his life, he was an avid aero historian and was awarded the Gaddis Cup by the Maine Pilots Association in 1997 and the Aero Club of New England’s prestigious State Award in 2003 for his “vision and effort in establishing the Maine Aviation Historical Society and his life-long enthusiasm for the preservation of Maine’s aviation heritage.” A featured speaker at the annual Fly-In, Greenville, and at Owls Head Transportation Museum, Leo was instrumental in establishing the Maine Air Museum, Bangor, and served on the board of directors of the Maine Aviation Historical Society and Portland Chamber of Commerce Jetport Committee. He was curator and author of the Chamber’s ongoing exhibit “A History of Aviation in Maine” at Portland International Jetport. After his retirement from Hanson Chrysler Plymouth, South Portland, Boyle operated the Consignment Corner Shop, Scarborough. Boyle was predeceased by his parents; his uncle, Harold J. Boyle; and close friends, Priscilla Shaw and Jim Chichetto. He is survived by his wife, Betty of Portland; daughters, Teresa B. Falsani and husband, Robert, of Duluth, Minn., Barbara Boyle and husband, Eugene Takahashi, of Davis, Calif., and Aletha Boyle and husband, Dana Ellis, of Belgrade; sister, Mary Boyle of Portland; grandchildren, Tara Falsani Harkins, Kelly Falsani, Shea and Cameron Ellis, and Keenan Takahashi; great-granddaughter, Meri Harkins; friends, the Rev. Lynne Campbell and Lisa Jones; his wonderful friends and caregivers at Birchwoods at Canco; and his dachshund, Dapple. A memorial celebration and reception will be held 2 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 20, at Thornton Heights United Methodist Church, 100 Westbrook St., South Portland. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorials to the Maine Aviation Historical Society, P.O. Box 2641, Bangor, ME 04402. Arrangements are under the guidance of Independent Death Care, 471 Deering Ave., Portland. Online condolences to the family may be expressed and a guest book signed at www.independentdeathcare.com
FRANCIS LEO BOYLE JR.
