[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 42 (Tuesday, March 3, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E251]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        REMEMBERING THE LIFE OF CAPT. BRIAN F. BOYCE, USN (RET.)

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. TIM RYAN

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, March 3, 2020

  Mr. RYAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Captain 
Brian F. Boyce, of Norfolk, VA, who died peacefully on February 22, 
2020 at the age of 75.
   Brian was born in New York City on November 7, 1944, to Donald 
Campbell Boyce, from Dingwall, Scotland, and Mary Gibbons, from New 
York City. He graduated from Chambersburg Area Senior High School in 
1962, Chambersburg, PA.
   Upon graduation from the University of Notre Dame, Brian entered the 
U.S. Navy, serving 28 years, including hazardous duty in several 
theaters. He commanded Amphibious Squadron FIVE, USS DUBUQUE (LPD 8), 
USS MOUNT VERNON (LSD 39), and SWOS Coronado. Post-retirement, he 
worked as a trainer in a virtual-reality navigation, seamanship, and 
ship-handling. He was also an expert witness in maritime litigation and 
an accident reconstruction specialist using computer-generated maritime 
simulations with a software application he developed.
   Brian was a loving, supportive, and kind husband, father, 
grandfather, and brother. Respectful of all, he selflessly volunteered 
his time and talents to help others and believed in the importance of 
engaged citizenship. He enjoyed golf, the outdoors, reading, history, 
travel, duplicate bridge, and being the family handyman.
   He was not the first in his family to serve his country. His 
maternal grandfather, Neil Gibbons, an immigrant from Donegal, Ireland, 
served in the U.S. Navy and as a Sergeant in the New York City Police 
Department, where he lost his life in the line of duty. In later years, 
Brian, an avid genealogist, revived the memory of his grandfather by 
researching the details of his military service and the accident that 
resulted in his tragic death.
   Brian is survived by Pam, his wife of 51 years, originally from 
Greensburg, PA; children Suzanne, of San Carlos, CA; John, of 
Alexandria, VA; and Tom, of Pittsburgh, PA; grandchildren Jimmy, Ben, 
Dava, and Mairin; and siblings Neil, of New York City; Bobby, of 
Wallingford, PA; Mary Jane, of Middle Haddam, CT; Margaret Ann, of 
Tolland, MA; and Barry, of Halifax, Nova Scotia. His eldest brother, 
Donald, died in 1994.
   I am very proud of a long-time friend of Brian's brother, Barry. My 
deepest sympathies go out to Barry, his entire family, and to all whose 
lives were touched by Brian.

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