James Boyd

James (Jamie) Boyd died at his home, Canyon Manor, a residential mental health treatment center in Novato, on January 3, 2021. He was 70 years old.

Jamie was born in Eugene, OR on January 25, 1950. His parents were Daniel Lamont Boyd, who died in 1958, and Rhoda Whitridge Boyd, who died in 1999. He was preceded in death by his brother, Christopher Lamont Boyd.

Jamie grew up in San Francisco, where he attended The Town School. He went on to graduate from Redwood High School in Larskpur. Hiking in the Sierras, spending summers at the family home in Bolinas and convening with cousins at the grandparent’s farm in Connecticut all gave him particular joy in his younger years. His ready and contagious giggle is remembered fondly.

Jamie lived his adult years with acute paranoid schizophrenia, which began to manifest itself in his adolescence. Two things gave Jamie peace - reading and music. The Bible, poetry, and history books were his main choice of books. Jamie had an uncanny memory and could tell the exact date of any historical event or individual’s birthdate you might want to know - or not, but he would tell you anyway. He would take notes on postits and then use them like flashcards to memorize facts and bits of information he wanted to remember. Jamie loved going to the symphony and opera. He would listen intently and even quietly tap along. If he could have gone to hear music every day he would have.

He is survived by his sister and her husband, Wendy Boyd Close and David Close, of Whidbey Island, WA. In addition, he is survived by his nieces Marian Alexander Close Garrison (Jon), Dr. Sarah Lamont Close (Chinmay Hegde), Emma Marie Close, and Brenna Margaret Boyd (Wadii Boughedir); and his nephew, Daniel Ipsut Boyd (Gabriela Ibanez Guzman). He also has six greatnephews and one greatniece. Nine cousins have fond memories of our childhoods with Jamie.

Great appreciation goes to Canyon Manor Mental Health Treatment Center, and in particular, social worker, Jim Quigley, who cared for Jamie with compassion and respect for 20 years. Thanks also goes to Danny Cunningham from Pro Care Management, who enriched Jamie’s life immensely with outings to the symphony, opera, Barnes and Nobel, Starbucks and Jennie Lowe’s restaurant.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra.