H. Bruce Boal, age 82, long time resident of Marblehead, Massachusetts died following a four year struggle with cancer. Son of the late Howard and Thayne Boal and brother of the late R. Bradlee Boal of Southbridge, MA, Bruce attended Phillips Exeter Academy, Harvard College and Harvard Business School. After graduation, Bruce received a commission in the Navy Supply Corps with specialized training as a Navy Exchange and Commissary Officer. He married Judith Ramsdell of Saugus, MA. Shortly after their marriage, they traveled together to Bangkok, Thailand, where he established a new Navy Exchange and Commissary for military and diplomatic personnel in Thailand and Laos.
After completing a three-year tour, they returned to Marblehead, where they lived for more than 50 years, raising three children. Bruce began his business career at Science Electronics, followed by seven years as President of Hickock Teaching Systems, before establishing BOALEECO in Peabody, MA, an exporter of technical and engineering equipment for schools and universities more than 30 years ago. His son, Scott, has been a senior partner for 20 years and will continue to operate the BOALEECO export business.
Bruce loved skiing with his family in the Woodstock, VT area and annual ski trips to Vail, CO with friends. A long time golfer at Tedesco Country Club in Marblehead, he served on the Board of Governors in various capacities, including a term as the Club President. His other clubs included the Eastern Yacht Club of Marblehead and the Harvard Club of Boston.
His interest in education was extensive. He was a founding member, trustee and treasurer of the non-profit TERC [Technical Education Research Centers], of Cambridge, MA, one of the leading developers of science and mathematics curriculums in the United States. In addition, he was the Marblehead representative to the North Shore Regional Technical High School in Middleton for 13 years, as well as past Chairman of the Marblehead School Building Committee. A member of the Harvard 1951 permanent class committee, he worked on fund raising and many reunions, including general chairman of his 20th and just recently his 60th reunion.
He leaves his devoted wife Judy of 57 years. Their wonderful life together, which began overseas continued with travels around the world with their family and friends.
He was also most proud of his three children, Scott Boal of Newbury, MA, his wife Anne, and his children, Grace, Molly and Carly; Martha Boal Willis and her husband William Willis, and their three children, Caroline, Andrew and Emily of Marblehead, MA; Jeffrey and Abigail Boal of Stamford, CT and his children, Peter and Hannah Boal. He is also survived by his sister-in-law Lyndall Cadbury Boal of Mt. Kisco, NY and several nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held February 3rd at 11:00 am at St. Andrews Episcopal Church, 135 Lafayette Street, Marblehead, where he served on the church vestry and finance committee. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Phillips Exeter Academy, Boal Scholarship Fund, Exeter, NH 03833 or Massachusetts General Hospital Melanoma Research, 165 Cambridge Street, Ste 600, Boston, MA 02114.
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