Boardman, L. W. "Hap"
After a long, adventurous life, Hap was ready for the next, and on Friday, September 23, Lucius W. "Hap" Boardman went on. Born in Hollywood, California on January 1, 1925, he was the "happy new year baby" and was forever known to all-even his children-as "Hap." While attending Boulder City High School in Nev., and working construction on Boulder Dam, he met his first love, Maurette Rodeback. Along with his younger brother, Jim, Hap volunteered for service in WWII. As navigator of a B-29 in the Army Air Corps, he served in Asia, Africa, Britain and France. Following the war, Hap returned to Boulder to marry Maurette. They became the parents of Steven, who died in infancy, Terri, now of St. George Utah and married to Wendell Brown, and of Kevin, now of Bountiful, Utah and married to Jan. Although Hap and Maurette later divorced, they remained caring friends throughout life. Hap moved to Chicago in 1949, where he attended Lake Forest College. Friends introduced him to a cute, petite coed; he and Diane Humble were soon sweethearts. They married in 1951, and relocated to Phoenix, where Hap's parents were already living. Hap and Diane quickly started a family, beginning with James W., now living in Tempe and married to Patricia, Kim, married to another Diane and living in Phoenix, and Suzi, who resides in Pine and Cave Creek with her husband, Michael Wild. In Phoenix, Hap, with his father, Lucius, and brother, Jim, established Boardman, Inc. Based in central Phoenix, the firm became an integral part of the booming real estate industry in mid-20th century Phoenix, providing insurance and mortgages. In the early 1970's, the firm added home appraisals, solidifying Hap's sterling reputation for candid, careful and completely fair work. While his sons were still young, Hap helped involve them with Boy Scouts. He took leadership positions with the Scouts, leading troops for more than a decade and introducing dozens of young Scouts to Arizona's wilderness through camping and desert expeditions. Hap's expertise in every aspect of camping and desert navigation served him well in his scouting duties, and each of "his" scouts learned to persevere and succeed, earning scouting badges and experience in self-reliance and confidence. He led his troops to one national Scout Jamboree, and the 1971 World Jamboree in Japan. As a doting grandfather, he conveyed his own love of exploring Arizona's byways, taking his grandsons and granddaughters, too, camping, biking, and hiking. He encouraged their scholarship, taking great pride in their academic and professional successes. Always looking for adventure, Hap took up motorcycle riding with a group of friendly compadres. On his beloved Harley, Hap became a free spirit, as he'd often hoped to be. Together with his biking buddies, he explored Arizona and forged strong friendships, establishing a solid routine that endured well beyond his 80th birthday. Fiercely independent, Hap Boardman firmly believed each man crafts his own destiny. Proud, loyal and adventurous, Hap lived and died as he chose. He leaves behind great and good memories to be cherished always by his family, including his former wives, Maurette and Diane, his children, and his grandchildren and their spouses, including Travis Campbell , Lindsey (Brad) Foster and Brittany (JJ) Bennett, Ashley Brown, Casey (Katie) Boardman, Brady (Brittney) Boardman and Quincy (Heidi) Boardman, Eric (Megan) Boardman, Rebecca (D.J.) Matthews, Amelia Boardman, and Christopher Wild. He will also be dearly missed by his 14 great grandchildren, along with his sister-in-law Virginia Boardman, his nieces, Julie Jensen and Jan Boardman and their families, and a host of close friends. 
 

Published in The Arizona Republic on Sept. 27, 2011