GEORGETOWN — Surrounded by family, friends, former students and dignitaries — some hailing from as far away as Florida, New Mexico and even the Ukraine — James "Jim" Boynton celebrated his 100th birthday in style last week.
Boynton received the historic Boston Post Cane Award during a late afternoon picnic at his Carleton Home residence on July 12.
Instituted by Boston Post Newspaper publisher Edwin Grozier in 1909, the award bestows gold-headed ebony canes to the oldest living residents in 700 towns across Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island.
Red and yellow balloons lent a festive air to the backyard gathering and a large, two-sided pictorial collage of the birthday boy involved in various endeavors over the past century greeted guests as they arrived at the well-attended party.
Seated in a wooden captain's chair, Boynton seemed to bask in the handshakes, hugs and warm congratulations offered to him from an extended clan that ranged in age from brand new babes-in-arms to Boynton's younger siblings — Marion, 89, and Harold, 97.
"What I won't do to get attention, huh?" the guest of honor said surveying the party with a twinkle in his eye. State and local officials spotted in the crowd included Sen. Bruce Tarr, Rep. Jim Lyons, Selectmen C. David Surface and Gary Fowler, Town Administrator Michael Farrell and Colleen Ranshaw-Fiorello, director of the Council on Aging.
A long-time educator and active member of the community, James Henry Boynton was born in Haverhill on July 12, 1911, the oldest son of Willard Rollins Boynton and Fronnie Elvira (Fletcher) Boynton. He graduated from Groveland High School in 1928, earned a bachelor's degree from Springfield College in 1933 and eventually a master's degree from Salem State College in 1964.
On Christmas Day in 1934, Boynton married his high school sweetheart, Helen Marguerite Chapman of Groveland. The couple spent most of their adult lives in Georgetown, where they raised three children — Beverly Ann, Judith Helen and James Henry Jr. Boynton also has six grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.
He's known for his playful sense of humor and his life-long commitment to community service — two factors, says Ranshaw-Fiorello, that seem to contribute to good health and longevity. He also enjoys the support of loving relatives who have helped him with life's transition, particularly the recent loss of his beloved wife.
"It's a wonderful example of how to care for our families as they age," Ranshaw-Fiorello said.
Boynton began his professional career as a history teacher at Perley High School from 1936 to 1941. He spent five years at Haverhill High School, then went back to Perley in 1947, where he served as principal until 1961. He was principal at Georgetown High School from 1962 until his retirement in 1972. Until very recently he would return to the schools to give historic talks to students.
Always an active presence in the community, Boynton was on the Georgetown Park and Recreation Commission, the Georgetown Savings Bank Board of Directors and a Charter member of the Georgetown Kiwanis Club. He served as president of the Essex County Principals Association and principal of the Perley Free School Fund.
Hardworking and resourceful, Boynton held at least 28 different jobs throughout his work career. He delivered papers from Groveland Center to the Georgetown line, mowed lawns for 50 cents, hawked Christmas cards and sold birch trees along the Merrimack River for use in craft memorial baskets. He worked as a winger in ice houses in Groveland and Georgetown, pumped gas, regularly cleaned a barn, picked up license plates and sold May flowers on Merrimack Street in Haverhill for 50 cents per bunch.
In college, Boynton worked at the West Springfield Post Office, earning 65 cents per hour. He was a college janitor, a fence guard at the Eastern States Exposition and an usher at the afternoon auto races. He served as soccer referee at Governor Dummer Academy (now The Governor's Academy) in Byfield and was a camp counselor at Camp Becket.
Following college, Boynton worked a laundry truck route in southern New Hampshire through West Newbury, Merrimac and into Haverhill. He delivered orders for Bishop's Market in Georgetown, drove a Cushman Bakery truck route at Cobbet's Pond in Salem, N.H., was a director at the Haverhill YMCA and worked at at Ginn Florist in Haverhill, where he made floral deliveries on his way home. "The back of his car would be full of flowers," his son, Jim Jr., recalled.
But his true passion was education. "He's always been a person who really cares about kids," his son said. Boynton founded the Georgetown soccer program, coached baseball and girls and boys basketball, and for 16 years was a director at Camp Leslie, a 4-H camp on Pentucket Pond, where campers named a building "Uncle Jim Boynton's Cabin" in his honor.
At one point during the party, Boynton playfully wielded the newly bestowed Boston Post Cane and quipped that he would have put it to good use in his teaching days.
Glen Smerage, a former student of Boynton who made the trek to Georgetown from Sante Fe, N.M., for the party, thinks he may have been one of the pupils the long-time educator had in mind. "I guess you could say I was in the deviltry corps at the Perley School," Smerage admitted with a mischievous grin.
Family member Anita Tate, who flew in from Cape Coral, Fla., for the event, recalled the fun Boynton always added to family gatherings when she was a young girl. "The jokes, the games — we just couldn't wait for Uncle Jim to come. He always kept us entertained."
Boynton, who even welcomed a grandson from the Ukraine to celebrate with him, acknowledged how special it is to have so many friends and family members gathered in your honor. "This has been so good — I think I'll plan another one for next year," he said.
Raw Video: Activists Allege Massacre in Syria
NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz
Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp
Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium
50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning
Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House
Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window
Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station
Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach
CEO Salaries Become Sore Issue in Labor Disputes
Raw Video: Fight Erupts in Ukrainian Parliament
Texan Ranchers Remain Wary of Drought
Raw Video: Soldiers Plant Flags at Arlington
Police: Man Arrested in Etan Patz Disappearance
NYC Protests: the Revolution Will Be Scripted
Chicago U.S. Attorney Fitzgerald Resigns
Neighbors of Etan Patz's Suspect: It's Shocking
Gulf Fishermen Reel From Seafood Troubles
Stuntman Makes Skydive Without Parachute in UK
