Richard A. Boera ’46

Dick, of South Burlington, Vermont, died October 13, 2023, at McClure Miller Respite House at the age of 97. Boera was born October 27, 1925, in NYC, the only child of Alvaro and Clara (Manz) Boera of Staten Island, NY.

Entering Princeton University in 1942, he took leave to enlist in the Navy in July 1943 during World War II. His sea duty was aboard the light cruiser, USS Portsmouth, on which he served as “A” Division Officer, on active duty through August 1946. He retired from the Naval Reserve in 1963 with the rank of Lieutenant (jg).

He received a B.S. degree as well as an honorary M.E. degree from Stevens Tech and--after working as an aerodynamicist for the Glenn L. Martin Company in Baltimore for two years--received a Master’s degree in Aeronautics (Rocketry & Jet Propulsion) from the California Institute of Technology in 1949, eight years before Sputnik. He worked with his father for eight years in the restaurant business on Staten Island, assuming overall management of the business when his dad suffered a heart attack in 1951.

Boera was married August 10, 1952, to Julie Baeszler of Stapleton, Staten Island.

When the restaurant burned down in 1957, Boera was asked to help out “for a short time” at the newly established Staten Island Community College. Thirteen years later (1970), having served (in some positions concurrently) as purchasing agent, bookstore manager, alumni director, assistant business manager, tenured assistant professor of mechanical technology, and business manager, he left Staten Island with his family to accept the post of Comptroller/Business Manager at Lyndon State College in Lyndonville, Vermont.

A survivor of colon cancer in 1985, Boera retired from his position as Dean of Business Affairs at LSC in 1989, having served seven college presidents during the terms of six chancellors of the Vermont State Colleges. Also in 1989, he was honored as Lyndon’s Citizen-of-the-Year.   

On Staten Island, Boera was an Eagle Scout, a member of the First Presbyterian Church, served as finance officer and commander of Grasmere Post #1191, American Legion, and as secretary-treasurer and president of the Staten Island Rotary Club.

In Lyndonville, Boera served as assistant scoutmaster of the Boy Scout Troop, Town and Village auditor, chairman of the Town Planning Commission, Justice of the Peace (for over 30 years), member of the Board of Civil Authority, a director and treasurer of the Lyndonville Rotary Club, a director and treasurer of the Caledonia County Fair, a director and treasurer of the Lyndon Historical Society, financial consultant/bookkeeper/budget officer of the Caledonia North Supervisory Union, interim business manager of Umbrella, interim business manager of the St. Johnsbury School District, trustee of the Sanborn School Fund, Lyndon Institute corporator, life member of Lyndon Post #30, American Legion, chairman of the St. Johnsbury-Lyndon Industrial Park Board, secretary-treasurer of the St. Johnsbury Development Fund and an interim Selectman of the Town of Lyndon. In 2009 he was honored as the Northeast Kingdom Chamber of Commerce’s Citizen-of-the-Year and Grand Marshal of the annual Stars & Stripes Pageant in Lyndonville.

He traveled extensively…to all 50 states, 83 countries, and all seven continents (including Antarctica) during his lifetime. His most frequent destination was Spain, the land of his ancestors. Most recently, he made a second globe-circling journey, this time via the Trans-Siberian Railway. Emulating George H.W. Bush, he recorded a skydive (from 14,000 feet over Hawaii) at age 83. An avid golfer, he also enjoyed fishing, reading, writing, and time on his computer, as well as hobbies of stamp, coin, autograph, and book collecting.

During his lifetime he saw nine U.S. presidents dating back to FDR, and, though a lifelong Republican, personally met Kennedy, Carter, and Clinton. In 1996, he hosted Chief Justice of the United States William Rehnquist as guest speaker at his Lyndonville Rotary Club and, during a visit back to Princeton while in the Navy in 1944, had a lengthy private meeting alone with Einstein in his study. His personal heroes - after his father - were Theodore Roosevelt and Charles Lindbergh. His book collections centering on these two individuals were extensive and his collection of books by and related to James A. Michener numbered over 400 volumes. He served as treasurer of the international Michener Society 2005-2009.

His beloved wife of 68+ years, Julie Louise (Baeszler) Boera, predeceased him in 2020; he is survived by their seven children: Patricia of Burlington; USAF Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Michael and wife, Carrie, of St. George, UT; Peter and wife, Kiva, of Wheelock; USAF and VTANG Lt. Col. (Ret.) Christine and husband, Jonathan Kingston, of  Jericho; Susan and husband, David Sobczak, of South Burlington; David and wife, Amy, of Burlington; USAF Col. (Ret.) Donna and husband, Brig. Gen. Shannon O’Harren, of Vienna, VA; twelve grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be private, and burial will be in the family plot in Moravian Cemetery, New Dorp, Staten Island, NY. Arrangements are by the Ready Funeral Services, 261 Shelburne Road, Burlington, VT. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be directed to St. Anne’s Shrine, 92 St. Anne’s Road, Isle La Motte, VT 05463, or to the Green Mountain Council, Boy Scouts of America, P.O. Box 557, Waterbury, VT 05676.