Robert Eugene Boyle

Robert “Bob” Boyle, age 89, passed away peacefully at his home in Naples, Florida on July 21, 2025, just a few months after the passing of his beloved wife, Carol, of almost 66 years in April. He was born on June 9, 1936, in the Brookline neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Bob was a proud graduate of St Justin High School in Mount Washington, Pennsylvania and LaSalle University in Philadelphia, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in 1958 and served as Student Body President. That same year, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army and recognized as a Distinguished Military Student.

In 1962, Bob began his career in the concrete industry on Long Island, New York. His entrepreneurial spirit led him to co-found Westchester Concrete in 1967. By the early 1970s, it had grown into one of the leading ready-mix concrete and construction firms in New York and northern New Jersey, maintaining its prominence until the company was sold in 1988.

Bob dedicated himself extensively to public service. In 1975, he joined the Board of Peekskill Community Hospital, serving as Chairman beginning in 1978 for over two decades. His commitment to education was also evident through his service on the Lakeland Central School District Board of Education, beginning in 1979, where he served as Board President for ten years.

Bob was active in politics, serving as Treasurer for New York Assemblyman, Senator, and Governor George Pataki from 1991 to 1995. In 1995, as President of the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, Bob led a landmark labor reorganization, dismantling entrenched criminal influence over nearly two-thirds of the workforce. He transitioned labor to state employment, introduced rigorous hiring standards, and cut labor costs by nearly half. Under his leadership, the Javits Center was transformed into a model of integrity, efficiency, and profitability.

From 1997 until shortly before September 11, 2001, Bob served as Executive Director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, appointed jointly by Governors Pataki (NY) and Whitman (NJ). Though he had retired months before the attacks, he was called back into service on 9/11 following the death of his successor in the Twin Towers. Bob resumed his leadership role to help guide the agency through its most critical moment.

Bob is survived by his loving children, Nancy Kane Boyle, Eugene John Boyle II, Tracy Ellen Egan and Brian Robert Boyle, 11 grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren, his sister Bernadette Delach and many nieces and nephews all of whom will deeply miss his warmth, wit and devotion to family and community. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Carol; parents, Gene and Catherine; sister, Barbara; brothers, Bernie and Bill; and grandson, Judson Lee Rudgers.

He adored his grandchildren and found great joy in watching them grow, play, and thrive. His generosity often worked quietly, behind the scenes, to support family members in need. A natural storyteller, Bob was known for his Irish charm, entrepreneurial drive, and a sense of humor that brightened every room. Fiercely competitive, he enjoyed golf, tennis, and skiing, and he and Carol shared a lifelong love of travel and adventure. Whether sharing his signature “Boyleisms”—the plainspoken wisdom and memorable one-liners his professional colleagues came to know him by—or pulling a coin from a grandchild’s ear, Bob brought a joyful, pragmatic spirit to everything he touched.

A visitation will be held Saturday, August 2, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Hodges Funeral Home at Naples Memorial Gardens, 525 111th Ave N, Naples, FL 34108. A funeral Mass will follow at 11:30 AM at Saint John the Evangelist Catholic Church, 625 111th Ave N, Naples, FL 34108 with livestream available at https://sjecc.org/funeral-mass/. Entombment will occur at 12:30 PM at the same address as the funeral home.

The family deeply appreciates the support and prayers of friends and the community during this difficult time. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research or the Parkinson’s Foundation to support ongoing research and care for those living with Parkinson’s disease.

If you wish to send flowers please visit: https://occasionsnaples.com/ or call directly at 239-592-6878