Leo Michael "Mike" Boyle, 88, of Fairfield, formerly of Emmitsburg, died on October 1. He was the husband of Alice E (Scott) Boyle for 62 years. Born on September 11, 1934, he was the son of the late Bernard H. and Mary (Bollinger) Boyle and the last of his immediate family.
Mike was a 1952 graduate of St. Joseph’s High School and Mount Saint Mary’s College in 1959. His college education was interrupted by two years of service in the United States Army. He retired from the Frederick County Liquor Board after serving 20 years with appointments under four governors. Prior to this he was employed at Fort Ritchie in the Accounting Department for one year and 35 years in the family grocery store business, B.H. Boyle & Sons, Inc.. His responsibilities included anything from delivery person, clerk/cashier to bookkeeper.
Mike served as the Civil Defense Disaster Coordinator for the Emmitsburg area in the early 1980’s. He was on the Board of Trustees for St. Joseph’s High School from 1980-1982. He was also a representative for the Emmitsburg area for the Frederick County Red Cross. Mike was elected to the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church Council three terms and was instrumental in starting the "200 Club." He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Council 1860, having reached the Fourth Degree Knight status. He served as treasurer for Silver Fancy Farms.
He was a LIfe Member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 6658, an ambulance driver and Emergency Medical Technician having been a member of the first Frederick County EMT class. His memberships included the Frederick County Ambulance Rescue Association, Adams County Pennsylvania Ambulance Corps (past President), and representative of Emmitsburg Ambulance Corp on the Frederick County Central Alarm Board where he served as vice-chairman for two years.
He was most proud of honorably serving the Vigilant Hose Company for 70 years as a Life Member. At 18 he joined the fire company following his father’s service example and was followed by two of his sons and a grandson into service. He served as President (four terms), Director (10 years), Treasurer (one year), Chief Hoseman (ten years) and as a Fire Police Lieutenant. He was the recipient of two life saving commendations and honored to be a Hall of Fame inductee in the Vigilant Hose Company.
He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather. He looked forward to family get-togethers, especially at Thanksgiving. He enjoyed attending Women’s Final Four Basketball tournaments as well as Mount Saint Mary’s mens’ and womens’ basketball games, cruises and playing "Hand and Foot" card games with his children and grandchildren but "only if he could win."
In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by sisters Anna Koontz, Loretta Sprankle and brother, Patrick Boyle.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, on October 8th.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Vigilant Hose Company, P.O. Box 171, Emmitsburg, MD 21727 or to St. Joseph’s Catholic Church designating gifts for the construction of the new handicapped ramp, 47 DePaul St., Emmitsburg.
