Joseph R. Boyd, Sr.

Joe Boyd was born in Springfield, Missouri in 1937, the son of John Hamilton Boyd, Sr. and Helen Reed Boyd and brother to John Hamilton “Jack” Boyd, Jr. One could say that his entire life was a miracle. At 12 days old, Joe contracted polio and was admitted to Shriners Hospital in St. Louis. The doctors advised his parents to take him home because nothing more could be done. Neither they, nor he, would accept that outcome. His parents, with the help of close friends Dr. George and Mildred Hogeboom, brought Joe back to Springfield for nurturing, home care and tough love, and through sheer determination as well as Joe’s scrappy nature, he beat the overwhelming odds and went on to live a full life for 85 years.

Once back at home in Springfield, Joe’s paralyzed leg was fitted with a heavy iron brace, and by the time he was old enough to walk he was using crutches. He had fond early memories of his German Shepherd, George, who allowed Joe to grab the hair on his back and pull himself up after falling while trying to walk with crutches. His leg brace had to be remade many times over the years due to his growth or breakage from rambunctious activities with his brother, Jack, and friends, although as time progressed, the braces were improved with lighter metals and plastics. Lengthy hospital stays and surgeries, about 30 in total, to fuse bones and graft skin were commonplace for many years, especially during summer vacations from school. During one summer spent at Touro Infirmary, Joe met Dr. Evan Howell, who had also contracted polio at a young age and became a lifelong friend.

In the 1940s, when Joe was five years old, the family moved to New Orleans. Joe’s father retired as a Naval Lieutenant Commander and became manager/dock master of the Foreign Trade Zone for the Port of New Orleans. Joe attended Holy Name of Jesus School, Jesuit High School as a pre-freshman, Sam Barthe, and then graduated from St. Paul’s in Covington, LA. In 1961, he obtained a B.A. from Tulane University, where he studied psychology and was awarded a grant from the National Science Foundation to perform and report on psychological research. This came in handy later on, when he used that psychology, reversely, on his children.

Joe would say that he made the best decision of his life on August 5, 1962, when he married his beautiful wife, Catherine “Cathy” Nacario Boyd, whom he met while she was a student at Loyola. Joe and Cathy had two children, Joe, Jr. and Erin, who meant everything to him. He never tired of showing, and telling, his family how much he loved them.

Joe then set his sights on becoming an attorney, which perfectly suited his scrappy nature. He attended night school at Loyola Law School while working at NASA during the day, all while helping to raise two young children. During law school he wrote articles for and received an award from Lawyers Co-Op Publishing Company. Due to his crutches and stairs at the school, Joe was unable to juggle carrying heavy law books to his classes. Instead, he had to learn and participate in class mostly from memory. In 1967, Joe earned his Juris Doctorate and passed the bar exam, and then went on to practice law for 30 years. He worked at several law firms before becoming Vice-President/Legal Counsel for International Auto Sales & Service, Inc., the distributor for Volkswagen, Porsche and Audi in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Western Tennessee. Thereafter, he became General Counsel for Southern Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiaries in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Morgan City and Pensacola before retiring in 1997.

Along the way, Joe served as President and/or a member of the Advisory Board of the Friends Alliance for the Mentally Ill (FAMI), a non-profit organization helping those who suffer from mental illness. He received the 1988 Annual Achiever Award from Goodwill Industries Volunteer Services. Later, he became a member of the Pastoral Counsel for St. Catherine of Sienna Catholic Church. He was a past President of the East Jefferson District Council of St. Vincent de Paul, and a member of its Board of Directors until Hurricane Katrina necessitated a move to Prairieville in 2005. In addition, Joe was a past member of the Knights of Columbus and the Third Order of Lay Carmelites, and had a deep devotion to Our Lady of the Rosary. He also served as President, officer, and/or board member of several condominium associations in the New Orleans and Baton Rouge area.

What most people remember about Joe is his sense of humor. He always had a twinkle in his eyes, and like any proper Irishman, loved a good verbal spar and telling tales, some of which may have been a wee bit exaggerated. His quick wit and one-liners often drew laughs from even the most stoic strangers. He was also a kind man, full of grace, dignity and honor, who considered himself truly blessed. His devotion and love for his family knew no bounds. He is survived by his beloved wife of 60 years, Cathy, a tiny but fierce warrior angel who was always by his side, and his loving son Joe, Jr., daughter Erin and husband Kirk, of whom he was immensely proud. The feeling was mutual; he was the best man they have ever known. Joe is also survived by nephews John, Bob and Jim and their wives, Terri and Jeanine, and children John IV, Chris and Dylan; sister and brother-in-law Virginia and George Rester; nieces Gina, Taira and Licia, their husbands Ken and David, and children Josh and Nick and wives Rana and Allyson, Marea and husband Andy, and grandchildren, Teagan, William, Finn, Mason and Luke; and cousin William “Bill” Reed. Joe was preceded in death by his father and mother and protective older brother, Jack, and Jack’s lovely wife Peggy. Joe was extremely close with Jack, an award-winning swimmer who taught Joe how to swim. Little did they know that years later, this would enable Joe to jump in a pool and save his young daughter’s life. Jack has no doubt been waiting for Joe so they can continue their unresolved “mother always loved you best” debate.

Joe was ahead of his time with computer and cell phone technology. He also enjoyed his pet dogs, family genealogy, jazz and country music, theatre, books, dark chocolate, good conversation and making people laugh.

“May the road rise up to meet you,” our dear, courageous and miraculous Irishman.

Visitation will be held at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home and Cemeteries, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd., New Orleans, LA on Saturday, June 24th from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., immediately followed by a mass to celebrate his life and internment. In lieu of flowers, please donate to St. Vincent de Paul Society. The family would like to express their gratitude to Cardinal Hospice of Baton Rouge and its staff, Mobility Depot and Superior Van of Baton Rouge, and Father Jerry Martin of St. John Evangelist Catholic Church in Prairieville, LA.