Carl R. Boehm '62
ALL HONOR TO HIS NAME
November 4, 1936 - January 20, 2022
November 4, 1936 - January 20, 2022
The Brothers of Sigma Chi wish to convey to Carl's family our deepest sympathies on their passing.
Carl Robin Boehm was born in Astoria, NY on November 4, 1936. When he was three years old, his parents Randi and George Boehm bought a 76 acre farm on Old Primrose Hill in Rhinebeck, NY where he spent his youth tending to cows and chickens. He wasn’t much of a chicken fan, but he took great pride in showing a 4H prize winning cow Aurora Borealis who won Best in Show in 1952 at the famed Dutchess County Fair.
He graduated from Rhinebeck Central School with the class of ‘54, and knowing he could not afford to go directly to college, he enlisted in the Navy during the Korean War. |
After three years of service, he enrolled in the Electrical Engineering program at Michigan State University on his Navy GI bill. Of equal interest was the MSU football program and he became a lifelong Sparty fan. He joined Sigma Chi and maintained lifetime friendships with his fraternity brothers. He graduated MSU in 1962 and his Bachelor of Electrical Engineering degree immediately opened opportunities of world travel for this farm boy turned sailor turned academic.
His business card literally read “rocket scientist.” Among the notable companies he worked for were Hughes Aircraft, Xerox, Bell Helicopter, and General Motors. |
He grew up on the East Coast and never lost his love of the Hudson River Valley, particularly during Autumn. He would often schedule trips back east to revisit his hometown during “the changing of the leaves” of his beloved Catskill Mountains. His love of stormy weather was legendary and he embraced the snowy winters of Michigan both in his college years and his final career at GM. Ultimately, the West Coast won his heart, as did the love of his life, Elaine, whom he affectionately called Pie.
They retired on the top of a mountain with a 360 degree view of the Northern San Diego Mountains where he always welcomed visits from his four children and their families. His hard work was always a means to generously spend more time with those he loved. After he retired, he took pride and joy in hosting family gatherings at his home in Fallbrook. The spectacular view he chose to see every day from his dining room table, sunrise to sunset, is the same view he chose to see the last day of his life. Rather than expire in a hospital, he passed over on January 20, 2022, in his own home with his beloved wife and son by his side and the view at his feet.
He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Elaine Lee Boehm. He is survived by his children Robyn Dyba, Heidi Spingler and Mike, Karen Mulder and Joe, and Eric Boehm along with his eight grandchildren Jayne Dyba, Emma Dyba, Max Dyba, Natalie Spingler, Clarke Spingler, Jack Spingler, Anna Mulder and Daphne Mulder. He is also survived by his younger sister, Peggy Walker, and younger brother Neil Boehm, a lifelong resident of Rhinebeck.
Carl Boehm is named among the many honored veterans in the Rhinebeck War Memorial Park featuring the Bronze Doughboy that honors all Rhinebeck residents who served in wartime.
ALL HONOR TO HIS NAME.
They retired on the top of a mountain with a 360 degree view of the Northern San Diego Mountains where he always welcomed visits from his four children and their families. His hard work was always a means to generously spend more time with those he loved. After he retired, he took pride and joy in hosting family gatherings at his home in Fallbrook. The spectacular view he chose to see every day from his dining room table, sunrise to sunset, is the same view he chose to see the last day of his life. Rather than expire in a hospital, he passed over on January 20, 2022, in his own home with his beloved wife and son by his side and the view at his feet.
He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Elaine Lee Boehm. He is survived by his children Robyn Dyba, Heidi Spingler and Mike, Karen Mulder and Joe, and Eric Boehm along with his eight grandchildren Jayne Dyba, Emma Dyba, Max Dyba, Natalie Spingler, Clarke Spingler, Jack Spingler, Anna Mulder and Daphne Mulder. He is also survived by his younger sister, Peggy Walker, and younger brother Neil Boehm, a lifelong resident of Rhinebeck.
Carl Boehm is named among the many honored veterans in the Rhinebeck War Memorial Park featuring the Bronze Doughboy that honors all Rhinebeck residents who served in wartime.
ALL HONOR TO HIS NAME.