Chief Philip E. Boyer III

Chief Philip E. Boyer III 61 passed away in the comfort of his home on Tuesday February 9, 2010. Born in Springfield July 12, 1948 son of the late Stella (Charwick) & Philip E. Boyer Jr. The family moved to Wilbraham where he graduated from Minnechaug High School Class of 1967. He proudly served his country during the Vietnam Era as a member of the Air Force, where he attained the rank of Sergeant stationed at Columbus Mississippi AFB where he obtained his Fire Training, and then served in Taiwan. Upon discharge he attended Springfield Technical Community College graduating in 1976 and then the University of Massachusetts graduating in 1980. He move to Ludlow where he was a firefighter for 2 years for the Ludlow Fire Department, and then joined the Westover Air Force Base Fire Department in 1974 working his way up from fireman, fire inspector, Assistant Fire Chief and finally to Fire Chief. He retired in January 2003 after 32 years at Westover having served as Chief for 6 years with a total of 34 years in Fire Service. Philip was a faithful and very active member of St. John the Baptist Parish now St. Elizabeth Parish, where he was a Eucharistic Minister, Usher, Greeter, President of the League of the Sacred Heart, Member of the Spaghetti Supper and St. Nick’s Bazaar committees. He was a member of the Ludlow Knights of Columbus Ludlow Council 3535 serving as financial secretary, Archbishop William Assembly Knights of Columbus 4th Degree, Ludlow Lions Club Past President and currently Vice President and long time Board Member and Finance Treasurer of Holyoke, Chicopee, Springfield Head Start and a member of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees. He continued his membership in the Fire Chief’s Association of Massachusetts, Western Massachusetts Fire Chief’s Association and Hampden County Fire Mutual Aid Association where he enjoyed his friends in Fire Service which was a very important part of his life. He played golf with Fire Chief’s and enjoyed collecting fire memorabilia of which he had a large collection. He was also an avid Red Sox and Patriots Fan He is survived by his wife of 18 years, Gayanne (Scheinost) Sonoda Boyer, his daughters Tracie Milan and her husband Wayne of Flowery Branch, Georgia and Erin Napier of Houston, Texas. Step Children Allan Sonoda Jr and his wife Maureen of East Longmeadow Steven Sonoda and his wife Kelly of Chicopee. Laurie Dillon and her husband John of Ashby, MA His grandchildren Declan Milan, Cameron Napier, and step grandchildren Kiara and Taryn Sonoda, Kyle and Julie Sonoda, Madisen and Tyler Dillon will forever miss their Papa He also leaves his sister Sharon Mitchell and her husband Dennis of Windsor, CT brothers Terrence Boyer and his wife Martha of Chicopee, Gary Boyer and his wife Donna of Springfield Jon Boyer and his wife Mary Ellen of Ludlow and sister Caroline Ransom and her husband James of Tolland, CT along with 10 nieces and nephews, extended family members and friends. Besides his parents he was predeceased by his first wife Donna (Vermette) Boyer, his niece Valerie Ransom and step daughter Heidi (Sonoda) Langille.

Independently owned and operated Kapinos-Mazur Funeral Home and Cremation with Confidence by Kapinos-Mazur care for the Community Since 1932