George K. Boyd, M.D., of Barrington, passed away peacefully at home on Sept. 30, 2013, surrounded by his family -- a day before his 85th birthday.
Boyd was born in Lawrence, Mass., and grew up on the family dairy farm. He started his education in a one-room schoolhouse in Andover, Mass. and ended up a well respected physician practicing in Providence for 35 years, first on Lockwood Street and then on Pitman Street.
He excelled in academics as well as music, playing the French horn in an orchestra at Hampton Beach, NH during high school and college and was a member of the Tufts College band, orchestra and brass choir. He graduated Tufts College in 1951 and Boston University Medical School in 1955.
Dr. Boyd served as a naval medical officer on a destroyer in the Pacific and was stationed at Camp Pendleton (San Diego, CA) where he met his future wife, Jean Strumski, the only nurse on base who did not smoke and liked to go to the movies, two key pre-requisites. They were married within three months of meeting and returned back to the East Coast to continue his medical training at a Boston hospital and then at RI Hospital in Providence, where he specialized in pediatric allergies.
Dr. and Mrs. Boyd provided medical and nursing care to Algerian children during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1961 after the French left the country bereft of medical care. Throughout his medical career, he helped thousands of RI children breathe easier and also trained Brown University medical residents at RI Hospital.
Dr. Boyd was a resident of Barrington for more than 50 years and hosted a 4th of July Fun Run for friends before riding his bike to the Bristol Parade with his daughters. Other interests included writing (typing with two fingers) movie reviews for friends, HO Model railroading, baking sourdough bread, tending the vegetable garden, sailing in Narragansett Bay, and attending live theater and music performances. He also had a special place in his heart for Mickey Mouse who was also “born” in 1928.
Survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Jean (Strumski) Boyd, 2 daughters Gayle Sommer and Sharyn Klaiman, 2 grandsons, Nicholas and Benjamin, nieces Janice (Poore) Petrea, Betty Jean (Poore) Bowers, and Colleen Stephens and nephews Everett Poore and Craig Stephens. Pre-deceased by his sister Grace Elizabeth (Boyd) Poore and his niece, Lynda (Poore) Garrett.
Burial is private. Donations in his memory may be made to: Asthma & Allergies Foundation of America/New England Chapter www.asthmaandallergies.org or Home & Hospice Care of Rhode Island www.hhcri.org
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