On March 13, 2022, Foster Boardman died peacefully at the Elm Wood Center in Claremont, New Hampshire, at the age of 99.
He was born in Brockton, Massachusetts on October 12, 1922, to Albert J. Boardman and Edith Reynolds Boardman.
He attended Phillips Exeter Academy, and entered Harvard College in the class of 1945, where he boxed, played soccer, and was captain of the varsity golf team. However World War II military service deferred his expected graduation for two years.
He left Harvard to attend officer candidate school. He was commissioned a second lieutenant and assigned to the15th Infantry Regiment, of the 3rd Infantry Division, which was the only American division to see combat in all European theaters: North Africa, Sicily, Italy, France, Germany and Austria. Mr. Boardman for his action in combat, as a platoon leader, was awarded the Silver Star, two Bronze Star Medals, and the Combat Infantryman’s Badge.
His Silver Star citation read:
“For gallantry in action. On 22 March 1945, near Moheischweiler, Germany, 2nd Lt. Boardman reorganized his platoon [WW2 army platoons had 41 soldiers] after being forced back by superior enemy forces of at least 200 men and led them forward in a vicious attack. Despite enemy small arms fire filling the air about him, he ran from man to man pointing out targets, firing as he moved. By the fury and brilliant leadership of 2nd Lt. Boardman, 36 enemy were captured, 5 killed and the remainder forced to withdraw, enabling the platoon to secure a roadblock and fortify the battalion’s left flank, aiding in the subsequent attack on and [capture] of Moheischweiler” [near Salzberg, Germany].
After his discharge from the army in 1946, as a captain, he finished at Harvard and graduated in 1947. He took a job in the mail room of the Boston insurance brokerage firm, Fairfield and Ellis, working his way up to eventually becoming one of the owners of the company.
In 1985, Fairfield and Ellis merged with Corroon & Black, which through subsequent mergers has become Willis Tower Perrin.
Mr. Boardman lived in Cohasset and Hingham, Massachusetts. After retiring in 1988 from Corroon & Black, he moved to New London, New Hampshire.
Mr. Boardman was an avid golfer, Captain of the Harvard Golf Team, a member of the Cohasset, Lake Sunapee, and Baker Hill Golf Clubs and winner of numerous club championships.
He was also an enthusiastic backpacker and hiker, having walked the Long Trail and 700 miles of the Appalachian Trail.
He was a member of the Cohasset Yacht Club and enjoyed sailing his O’Day Day Sailor.
He survived his former wives, Harriet Oliver Wilson Boardman and Nancy Burrows Boardman Putnam, and his wife, Julie Windham St. Onge Boardman.
He is survived by his daughter, Harriet C. Boardman, his son, William T. Boardman, and daughter in law, Sally Ann Vander Weele, his sister, Nancy Boardman Eddy, his nephew, Nicholas C. Eddy, his niece, Kristin Eddy, his grandchildren, Christopher J. Kennedy, Lindsay W. Kennedy, Andrew O. Calabrese IV, his great-granddaughter, Hannah Grace Kennedy, and his stepchildren, Ronald St. Onge, Jeffrey St. Onge, his wife, Rashmi Jain, James St. Onge, and Sarah St. Onge.
A funeral is scheduled for 10:30 AM on March 31, 2022, at St. Andrews Episcopal Church in New London with a reception to follow at the New London Inn. The Reverend Jay MacLeod will officiate. All are welcome to attend.
Flowers are acceptable and/or memorial contributions may be made to Saint Andrews Episcopal Church, 52 Gould Street, New London, NH 03257.
