NORTH BRUNSWICK – Three members of the Boily family will forever be memorialized with a street sign bearing their name.
As of June 4, a secondary sign for Boily Way is located at the intersection of Princess Drive and Regal Court in North Brunswick, honoring the late John Charles Boily, the late John J. Boily Sr. and John Boiley Jr.
John Charles Boily was born on Dec. 25, 1894, in Murray Bay, Canada. He became a United States citizen when he traveled to New York from Ireland shortly before he enlisted in the U.S. Army in August 1918, according to the proclamation read in his honor.
During World War I, Boily served as a tank driver overseas from September 1918 to March 1919. He was honorably discharged in April 1919.
Boily worked as a foreman at the Jersey City Printing Company and was a resident in Jersey City for 45 years. He was a member of the Holy Name Society of St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church.
Boily was married to Elizabeth (Duffy) and together they have three children: John, Catherine and Daniel. He passed away on Dec. 17, 1958.
John J. Boily Sr. was born on Dec. 5, 1916, in Rasolis, Ireland. He came to America on the S.S. Orduna from Liverpool on Oct. 16, 1919, with his mother Elizabeth. They arrived in Ellis Island and reunited with his father before settling in Jersey City, according to a proclamation read in his honor. The family moved to North Brunswick in 1988.
Boily Sr. joined the U.S. Army at age 27 during World War II. He was a corporal in the 3rd Reinforcement Depot and served in France, Germany and Belgium, specializing in Army intelligence.
He received the American Campaign Medal, the European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, the Good Conduct Medal and the World War II Victory Medal. He was honorably discharged on April 15, 1946.
Boily Sr. worked for more than 30 years as a milling machine operator II for the New Jersey Machine Shop in Hoboken.
He enjoyed collecting stamps and coins, and visiting family in Quebec with his wife and son, according to the proclamation. He volunteered with his granddaughter Nicole’s Girl Scout troop and baked for the PTO at John Adams Elementary School where she attended. He also liked his walks in Sabella Park, collecting golfballs, and making friends with the neighborhood mailman, according to the proclamation.
Boily Sr. was married to the late Rita (Austin) on June 28, 1941, and they have one son, John. Boily Sr. passed away on Oct. 21, 2001.
John Boily Jr. was born on Dec. 7, 1942. He grew up in Jersey City and attended St. Michael’s High School in Union City.
He was interested in mechanics and enlisted in the U.S. Air Force on May 5, 1964, where he pursued automotive mechanics. He served at Tan Son Nhut Air Force Base in Saigon, Vietnam, in 1966. He repaired vehicles on the flight line where cargo was loaded and unloaded, according to the proclamation.
While in Vietnam, his air force base was attacked by the Vietcong who attempted to destroy the airplanes on the flight line. United States forces were able to fend off their attackers and there were no casualties, according to the proclamation. He never had to use his rifle in combat.
Boily Jr. earned the Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, the Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal and the Vietnam Campaign Medal.
He returned home to a radar station in Ocean City in 1967. He married his childhood sweetheart, Fran Lockwood, on April 15, 1967, and on May 3, 1968, was honorably discharged from his service, according to the proclamation.
They moved to Jersey City in 1968 where he worked for UPS as a mechanic in the Meadowlands. They traveled to many places, including a trip in 1985 to Costa Rica where they adopted their only child, Nicole. The family moved to North Brunswick in 1989 where they still reside on Princess Drive. They have two grandchildren, Ted and John.
Boily Jr. retired from UPS after 38 years of service with a lifetime safety award. He is also a member of the American Legion.
