In Memory

John Boastfield

John Boastfield

 

 

 

 St. Petersburg Times (FL) - June 23, 2000
BOASTFIELD, JOHN, 42, of Pinellas Park, died Wednesday (June 21, 2000) at home. Born in Salt Lake City, he came here 13 years ago from Saxonburg, Pa. He was a purchasing agent for a metal manufacturer and was an Episcopalian. Survivors include his parents, Tom and Floy Boastfield, Saxonburg; a brother, Mark T., Leesburg, Va.; an uncle, Chuck Holt, Truckee, Calif.; and his companion, Charlotte A. Sherwood. 

 

John Boastfield & niece, Jenni Boastfield Fitzgerald: July 4th, 1984

John and the Boastfield Family, Hotel Saxonburg

 


 
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10/02/11 06:44 PM #1    

Kirsten (Kris) Roling

 From Niece, Jenni Boastfield Fitzgerald:

 

A few months ago, as our planning committee attempted to locate missing classmates, we unfortunately stumbled upon the possibility that our classmate, John Boastfield had passed away.  During my efforts to confirm this, I contacted a family member of John's, who during the course of our communication, made two generous contributions to our Silent Auction.  John's niece, Jenni Boastfield Fitzgerald is a gifted Landscape Photographer and resides in Maryland.  Previously, Jenni has donated her framed photo prints for hospice auctions in her hometown.  She donated two beautiful framed pieces of art in honor of her Uncle John Boastfield.  Jenni has asked me to share the following with our class:  

"I am sad to relay the message that my uncle, John Boastfield, did indeed pass away in 2000  We miss him dearly, and I thank you for your interest in preserving his memory, through (your Silent Auction) and the Hampton Alliance for Educational Excellence (HAEE).  He was an amazing person and I know he would smile knowing that you were looking for him for your reunion.  I would like to thank you for not only thinking of my kindhearted uncle but for contacting me to find out what had become of him.  If you could, please share this comment with your classmates.  Again, thank you for contacting me.  It means a great deal to me and my family.  I hope that your classmates are able to find inspiration in the lives of yur lost alumni...instead of being brought down by life's many sorrows and losses, it is important to be able to refocus on the goodness that is all aroud us!"  - Jenni Boastfield Fitzgerald. 
 
While I lived far from my uncle John as my brother and I grew up, he was always an encouraging presence over the phone, sent thoughtful gifts and cards, and was always great company when we got to be together at holidays.  John had a heart of gold, and often thought of others before himself.  He was a strong advocate for all creatures, great and small.  Something I always recall about John was that he was known in his Pinellas Park, FL neighborhood as the friendly guy who loved animals of all kinds.  He had many adopted pets while he lived with his partner, Charlotte, and their home was a happy menagerie of creatures; dogs, cats, tortoises, frogs, fish, and lizards all under one roof.  One time, John woke up and looked in his backyard and saw that someone had abandoned a 6ft long iguana in his fenced garden, no doubt someone who had heard of his compassion.  Well, what did John do?  He built a cage for the massive creature on their screen porch and that iguana had a home.  I will always remember John as a lover and protector of those people and animals who couldn't stand up for themselves.  Johnny had a big, kind heart, and I think of him every time I help a turtle cross the road or catch a cricket and set him outside instead of squishing him.  
 
John is survived today by his mother, Floy Holt Boastfield, his elder brother and sister-in-law, Mark & Elizabeth Boastfield, his nephew Scott Boastfield, and his niece Jennifer (Boastfield) Fitzgerald and her husband Steve Fitzgerald.  


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