Donald W. Boyd

September 7, 2021. Beloved husband of 66 years of Winifred G. (nee Boyd) Boyd; father of Donald W., III

(Karen) Boyd, Nancy Boyd Haley and Geoffrey G. (Cheryl) Boyd; grandfather of Donald W., IV, Kelley, Erin and Kristin Boyd and Bryan Haley; great-grandfather of Peyton and Alex Boyd; brother of the late David (late Cathy) Boyd; also survived by many nieces and nephews.

The family will be present to receive friends Wednesday, September 15th from 3-6:30 PM at

BEACH-TUYN FUNERAL HOME, INC., 5541 Main Street (at Cayuga Rd.) Williamsville, where a Memorial Service will follow at 6:30 PM.

Mr. Boyd was a proud businessman/family business owner of Professional Program Management Inc. for over 34 years. He was an active member of many community service organizations spanning his lifetime. Mr. Boyd was a WWII Navy veteran.

Obituary for Donald W. Boyd, Jr.

Donald “Don” W. Boyd, Jr., 98, of Buffalo, NY passed away Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2021. Mr. Boyd was born and raised in Amherst on Feb. 7, 1923 to Donald W. Boyd Sr. and Nan S. Boyd (nee Smith). He attended Amherst High School graduating in 1939 and furthered his studies at Colgate University in Hamilton, New York (A.E), where he was active in student publications, and graduated in 1943.

Born of “The Greatest Generation”, Mr. Boyd served in WWII, active duty from Feb. 7, 1944 to June 19, 1946. Here he served as US Navy Lieutenant Junior Grade, Supply and Disbursing Officer, USS Barnett (APA 5), a transport in the Pacific. He co-edited a book called “A Pictorial History of the U.S.S. Barnett (APA-5)” that includes pictures of shipmates, places they worked and their daily routine. In 2019, Don was interviewed on his WWII experiences by Greg Peterson who created a YouTube video.

Following war service, he worked in public relations at Champlain College/Plattsburgh and then served from 1947-51 as director of public relations at Clarkson College in Potsdam. While at Clarkson he was credited with renaming the athletic teams “the Golden Knights” and wrote words to a song entitled “We’ll Remember Clarkson.”

Returning to Buffalo in 1952, he joined Canisius College as an assistant director of development. He left Canisius College in 1963 to establish his own firm, Professional Program Management Inc. that was involved in the management of local and national associations, over 150 tradeshows, seminars, and trade publications. The Buffalo Niagara Partnership named him a Buffalo Ambassador for bringing business to Buffalo. At peak, PPM had 22 employees, many of whom remain in touch today.

Raising his family in North Buffalo’s Parkside Community, Mr. Boyd dedicated his time to countless organizations including the Kiwanis Club of North Buffalo as President and Secretary for over ten years; Hertel-North Buffalo Business Association, President for 5 plus years; and the North Buffalo Business Development Association, President 5 plus years. Active in St. Mark’s Roman Catholic Church and School, he was a former director of the Holy Name Society and later Co-Founder and Co-Chairman of first Lion Heart Auction. Awarding him the St. Mark Lion Heart Award in 2002, St. Mark’s School recently acknowledged Don’s contribution with a memorial marker on the school walkway.

He was also active in Boy and Girl Scouting and was scoutmaster (BSA) from 1968-76, district commissioner (BSA) and board member of the Girl Scout Council. Well over 200 North Buffalo youth benefited from his scouting leadership. He earned Eagle Scout and Order of the Arrow as a scout and district award of merit as an adult Scouter.

Mr. Boyd also served on the boards of Junior Achievement of WNY, Crisis Services, Food Shuttle of WNY, Tip Club of Buffalo and more.

A 1993 recipient of the prestigious J.C. Penney Golden Rule Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service, his nominators wrote “The tremendous community-wide impact Don has had is nearly immeasurable.” Further mentioning “his hands-on style and boundless commitment has enriched the lives of countless others and inspires others to be their best.”

As an avid collector of antiques, he was co-managing partner of the former Courtyard Antique Center in Clarence. Among his collections were old typewriters, one of which he still used today to type frequent notes to family and friends.

In 2007, Don and his wife Winnie moved into Rock Oak Estates in Clarence where he served as director of the Rock Oak Homeowners Association.

While leading the Clarence Hollow Association for ten plus years, he rallied businesses and residents alike to be involved in the Clarence Hollow Community. He was instrumental in the founding of the Clarence Hollow Farmers’ Market and has been dubbed by some as “the father” of the popular event. Meeting with then Town Supervisor Kathleen Hallock, he laid out his vision for the restoration and development of the Town Park Club House as a historic site. He is also a member of The Clarence American Legion Post #838.

Active in the Western New York Railway Historical Society since 1980, he held Membership Certificate #1 and was recently honored for years of service on leading fundraising projects for the Lehigh Valley Historic site including restoration of the depot in Williamsville.

As a resident of The Amberleigh senior living community, he established the Amberleigh Learning Academy, where since 2015 he hosted a weekly speaker series for residents and the community.

Why so many volunteer organizations? He summed it up in this statement “So why do I volunteer? I volunteer because I can, because God granted me the desire, strength, knowledge, resources, and opportunity to do so. I volunteer for those whose circumstances don’t allow them to. I volunteer in the hope that it will inspire others to do the same. I volunteer because it fills a space in my life that money, possessions, titles and awards have never been able to do. I volunteer because each day on this Earth is a gift, and the least I can do is to give back in return.” As one of his friends said, “Western New York is richer for having Don Boyd as one of its own.”

Mr. Boyd is survived by his wife, Winifred G. Boyd; and three children, Donald W. Boyd III (Karen), Nancy Boyd Haley and Geoffrey G. Boyd (Cheryl); five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.