Family, friends and the marine transportation community are mourning the death of Noel Boynes. Boynes, 86, died Tuesday in Washington, D.C., after a prolonged illness.
The son of St. John ferry service pioneer Loredon Boynes, Noel joined the family business in the early 1960s after returning from military service in Germany. From there, with help from his family, he went on to launch a car barge service — Boyson, Inc. — in the 1980s.
A veteran, first responder, athlete, musician and mentor, Boynes is remembered as one who upheld the values of integrity and good character for his kin. “Uncle Noel was so many things to all of us — the protector, the one person we would always know,” said niece Monique Matthias.
Matthias described her uncle as a St. John son of the soil, born March 4, 1938, in the area now known as Gifft Hill, one of ten children born to Loredon Boynes, Sr. and Estella Stagger. He served with the U.S. Army’s famed 82nd Airborne Rangers in the mid-1950s, then returned home to teach physical education at the Julius E. Sprauve School.
From there, Boynes joined his father and the late Rodney Varlack, ferrying St. Johnians and St. Thomians across Pillsbury Sound. A few months later, Matthias said, her uncle signed up with the V.I. Fire Service.
Joining him along the way was his wife, Bernice, his life partner of 63 years; together, they raised four children: Leon Plaskett, Cheryl Boynes-Jackson, James Boynes Sr., and Noel Boynes Jr.
They also launched the barge service in the mid-1970s and later incorporated in the early 1980s. Matthias said by doing so, her uncle fulfilled his dream of building a family business.
Throughout it all, the firefighter and boat captain made time for work and play. Niece Jessica Richards-Daley recalled her uncle’s performances with a band called the Jokers. “The memory I have of my Uncle Noel was that he loved music, but I learned that Uncle Noel was instrumental in the development of a lot of musicians on St. John,” Daley said.
In later years, he also made time to play softball with the St. John Ambassadors Men’s Senior League Team, Matthias said.
At the end of a full life, Boynes leaves behind his wife, Bernice, four children, nine grand- and nine great-grandchildren, other relatives, and many friends.
Funeral services are pending.
