Boyer, Jr., Carl Henry

Carl Henry Boyer, Jr, of Wilmette, Illinois (formerly of Glencoe), passed away peacefully at home on April 25, 2021 after a brief battle with acute myeloid leukemia. Born in Chicago on November 7, 1937, he was the son of Margaret Willard Boyer and Carl Henry Boyer, Sr. He was also predeceased by two sisters, Mary Lou Zachman (Richard) and Barbara Hogue (David). He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Mary Apple Boyer, his daughters Christina (Stuart Luman), Abigail (Joe Sanders) and Margaret, as well as his granddaughters Zelda Boyer Zastrow, Harriet Sanders and Mary Sanders, in addition to several nieces and nephews. Carl was a graduate of Oak Park River Forest High School (’55), Colorado College (’60) and received his MLA from the University of Chicago in 2002. Carl was a member of Skokie Country Club in Glencoe and Sara Bay Country Club in Sarasota, Florida.

Carl began his career as a buyer and manager with Marshall Field & Co and Montgomery Ward & Co during the 1960’s and 1970’s. He was Manager of the London and Western European buying office of Montgomery Ward during the early 1970’s. By the 1980’s, Carl had parlayed his knowledge of consumer goods, specifically the watch and clock industry, to start his own firm, Carl Boyer and Associates, which he ran for 20 years. Carl was a pioneer in the licensing of intellectual properties and deployed his deft design skills and strong aesthetic sense in his work. To his young daughters’ delight, his clients included Crayola, Charles Schultz (Peanuts), Jim Davis (Garfield) and one of his family’s favorite projects was the E.T. alarm clock.

Aside from his career, Carl dedicated a great deal of time to both his local community and that of Greater Chicago. He was an active member of the Winnetka Congregational Church, where he served on various committees and was Chair of the Congregation from 1995-1996. At Skokie Country Club, he was on the

Board of Directors. He also served on the board of Hull House Association and an affiliate organization, Parkway Community House. At Interfaith House (now The Boulevard), a respite care facility for homeless adults, Carl volunteered by taking residents to cultural and sports activities – driving the transport van himself, no less! For this work he received the organization’s 2004 Compassion in Action Volunteer of the Year Award.

Carl was also an avid traveler. As a young man he lived in Italy for a year, taking full advantage of his time there to explore Europe extensively. While newlyweds, he and Mary lived in London for two years. Much of his subsequent career was spent in foreign travel, primarily to Asia. Carl shared his excitement for travel with his entire family; he particularly loved travel planning and his diligent efforts boded many wonderful family trips. Carl’s enjoyment for travel was part of a larger curiosity about the world. It was this curiosity that propelled him to return to the classroom at age 62 to pursue his Master’s in Liberal Arts at the University of Chicago. He also took several art classes in his retirement, furthering his lifelong artistic inclinations. This appreciation for art extended to collecting antique porcelain and old paintings. Carl was actively involved in the Ravinia Festival, Chicago Humanities Festival, Writers Theatre, a Lyric Opera subscriber, and loved all forms of theater, movies (especially classics), music, as well as skiing, golf, and reading. When he wasn’t sharing in these many interests with his wide circle of friends, Carl was entertaining them as a quintessential host and party planner. He loved a big party with delicious food, drink and laughter, to which he always contributed his dry wit. To properly honor that legacy, Carl’s family will be hosting a reception at Skokie Country Club on Friday, May 28 from 2:30-5:30pm. Contributions in Carl’s memory can be made to The Boulevard of Chicago, Ravinia Festival or the Winnetka Congregational Church.

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