Dr. J. Boyland

BEAUFORT, SOUTH CAROLINA - Dr. Colum J. Boyland, 94, passed peacefully in his sleep at home surrounded by his loving family on March 20, 2012.  Born on December 7, 1917 in Newark, New Jersey, he was the son of John W. Boyland and Elizabeth Salter Boyland.   John Boyland had immigrated to the United States from Wallasey, England in 1910 and Elizabeth Salter, Bessie to friends and family, immigrated in 1916.  Her passport included the phrase "Valid for travel in the War Zone".    Bessie died of a birth accident.  For some years John hired live-in housekeepers to care for Colum and their dwelling.   Colum remembers picnics with his father during the time John dated, looking for a wife.   Theresa Sullivan filled the vacancy in their lives admirably.  Colum had taken to her during the courtship and she quickly represented love and security to him.  It was a two-way street; they were extremely close.  The summer when Colum was a rising high school senior he journeyed by ship to England, spending time with both maternal and paternal relatives.   Colum bicycled in England, Scotland and the Isle of Man.  He then went to the Continent and hiked the Rhine from Coblenz to Rudisheim, cabling his parents he had extended his original plan and would be home for Christmas.   Colum's stories of his travels and adventures entertained his children and grandchildren, while his rich character and strong constitution continue to inspire. Colum met the love of his life Deo Robin Rhodes, a fellow dental student at University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.  After a whirl-wind courtship, they decided to "play for keeps" and married July 24, 1953.    Colum graduated from Columbia University and the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine and was subsequently drafted into the U.S. Army.   Dr. Boyland and his wife Deo shared many adventures during his lengthy military career, serving in: Mainz, Germany, Fort Jackson, South Carolina; Vietnam; Fort George Meade, Maryland; Kagnew Station, Asmara, Ethiopia (now Eritrea); Fort Devens, Massachusetts and lastly Washington, DC where his career culminated as Chief of Dental Services at the Pentagon, after which he retired in 1976 as a full Colonel.  With a special affinity for the water since he was a child and ever the adventurer, Colum moved his family to the Lowcountry in 1976 when he started working for Beaufort Jasper Comprehensive Health at their satellite clinic in Hardeeville, eventually becoming Director of Dental Services.    After 13 years he retired for good in 1989.  During his retirement years he had many projects, one of which was building his own deep water dock where he spent many happy days crabbing and setting out on his sailboat.  Colum thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated the tranquil beauty around him at his Lowcountry home. Dr. Boyland is survived by his wife, Deo Rhodes Boyland and four children and six grandchildren: Caroline Boyland Brice of Beaufort; John Boyland and his wife Tammy of Radford, Va; Anne Boyland Bowyer of Charlottesville, Va; David Boyland his wife Evelyn of Stafford, Va.  His grandchildren are Aaron Brice, Jacqueline Brice, Jennifer Boyland Reynolds, Joseph Boyland, Dustin Bowyer and Colum Bowyer.   Wishing you fair winds and following seas         Services will be held at 10 am Friday at Beaufort National Cemetery with Military Honors.   Neighbors and friends are welcome to visit at the home between 2 pm and 5 pm after the service. In lieu of flowers tribute donations may be made to Carteret Street United Methodist Church, Beaufort, South Carolina or Doctors Without Borders @ www.doctorswithoutborders.org/donate/