Robert John Boeri

Robert John Boeri passed away in grace at the age of 83 surrounded by his wife, Judith (Burby) Boeri, and daughters, Joanna and Martha.

Bob was born in Boston, Massachusetts, but spent his childhood in the small town of Whitefield, New Hampshire, deep in the White Mountains. Bob loved to tell his children and grandchildren many stories of his rough-and-tumble childhood, from the night he and his best friend David Savage tried to help David’s aunt with yardwork and nearly burned down the town, to the time he survived a tornado by hiding under his bed. He had all sorts of pets, including Skippy the raccoon, Robbie the robin, and a dog named Puppy Dog. Bob’s career took him away from New Hampshire, but he returned often with his wife and family, sharing his love of nature and the mountains.

Bob was a bright student, excelling in math and science. At his teacher’s suggestion — in the hopes that harder work might keep him challenged and well behaved — Bob skipped a grade. After graduating as valedictorian from Whitefield High School, he attended Boston College, a Jesuit institution. He subsequently received his Bachelor of Science degree from Lowell Technological Institute, graduating first in his class. He went on to earn a Master of Business Administration from Babson College with highest distinction.

Bob was a proud veteran of the Vietnam War, serving in the Army Signal Corps. In Vietnam, his job often took him into areas of active combat; coding machines like the Enigma machine were sent to him when no one else could fix them.

Following his return from Vietnam, Bob met his wife, Judy, at the Mohawk USO dance club near Fort Devens in Massachusetts. They fell in love during that first dance and continued their dance for six decades thereafter. Judy’s mother and father, Ray and Anna, looked upon Bob as their own son; their family became his family. He was a big brother to the large and loving Burby clan and found his second family to be a constant source of love, support, and laughter. Bob and Judy shared a deep love of Christ, raising their children in the Church and making it their spiritual home. Avid singers, they sang in the church choir wherever they lived.

Throughout his life, Bob was an early adopter of all things technical. He first worked with computers when they were so large they occupied entire rooms, and he remained in the information technology field throughout his career. During his career, he and his family lived in Whitinsville, Massachusetts; Raleigh, North Carolina; Westborough, Massachusetts; and Washington, D.C. He served a term as president of the Boston Technical Writers’ Association and was a noted contributing editor and columnist for EContent magazine for thirteen years. Upon retirement, he and Judy relocated to St. Leonard, Maryland, where they lived happily on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay. The couple enjoyed many trips across the U.S. and traveled to over fifteen countries around the world.

Bob was an avid gardener, planting and nurturing all manner of fruit trees, vegetables, and flowers. His home was frequently graced with vases filled with flowers and bowls of tomatoes from his garden. He enjoyed combining his love of the environment with his ever-expanding know-how. He was a champion of new technologies and owned a hybrid Prius before most people even knew they existed. He built solar ovens, captured water for his garden in rain barrels, and installed solar panels on the roof. He shared his love of nature with his children, grandchildren, and all who knew him, handing out fossils, pointing out the names of birds, flowers, and constellations. Throughout his life, Bob saw the glory of God in nature and never tired of learning about the world around him.

One of his greatest pleasures in life was sharing these passions with his grandchildren, who loved to spend time with “Pa” — hearing stories of “the good old days” around the dinner table, playing cards, watching Looney Tunes, making pizza, and collecting shark teeth on the beach. Although Bob loved all the family pets, his Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Lily, was his favorite by far; she was most often found snuggling by his side and continues to capture the hearts of everyone around her.

Bob was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend. He is survived by his wife, Judy; his daughters, Joanna and Martha; sons-in-law, John and Scott; five grandchildren, Noah, Jacob, David, Gabriel, and Kira; and many nieces and nephews. He is further survived by his brothers Ken and Jim, and sisters Teresa and Mary. He is also survived by his Burby clan brothers and sisters, Jim, John, Laura, Mary, and Lisa, and their spouses.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Louise Rexford and John Boeri, and his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Anna and Raymond Burby.

The family will receive friends on Friday, October 16 at 10:30 AM till the time of the funeral mass at 11 AM at Saint John Vianney Catholic Church in Prince Frederick, Maryland.  A luncheon will be held following the service.

In lieu of flowers, please make memorial contributions to Christ House or Pawsitivity Service Dogs for Veterans.