The street co-naming ceremony of Firefighter John “Jack” Boyle Street, at the intersection of 78th Street and Furmanville Avenue in Middle Village, honored the life of a man rooted in service to his family, community and country.
Over 100 guests from surrounding neighborhoods attended the co-naming ceremony on Saturday, Sept. 7, with members of the FDNY and United States Army in attendance.
City Council Member Robert Holden, representing Middle Village in District 30, worked with the two service agencies and the Boyle family to rename the block after a man he called “the real-life Batman.”
“To me, Jack Boyle is the real-life Batman. Just look at what he did,” Holden said in his opening remarks.
Boyle, a 30-year member of the FDNY, began his journey as a member of Ladder 102/Engine 209 in Brooklyn.
In 1978, he was honored with the prestigious Holy Name Medal from the NYC Mayor’s Office—an award given to only a select few in emergency services—after heroically saving the lives of several children from a fire.
A year later, in 1979, Boyle joined FDNY Rescue 1 in Manhattan and served New York City until his retirement in 2002, when he received the FDNY Holy Name Society “Man of the Year” Award.
Boyle, like many first responders on 9/11, sustained long-term health-related issues; he died on Aug. 24, 2019.
Before joining the FDNY, Boyle served as a United States Army Paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne during the Vietnam War. He also worked as a New York City Transit Police Officer until eventually becoming an unforgettable part of the FDNY.
Boyle’s legacy of public service drew a large gathering of red, green and blue-blooded service members to his street naming ceremony over the weekend. Attendees were fortunate to hear heartfelt stories about his life from close friends.
“He had a life of service to his country, to his city, to his church and to his family. That was Jack Boyle,” said friend and former FDNY member Louis Garcia. “He was the embodiment of a Maspeth—Middle village guy, and I think we all owe him applause.”
Dawn Boyle, beloved wife of Jack, stood alongside their children Patrick and Caitlin, as they uncovered the official John “Jack” Boyle Street sign. Dawn’s community advocacy remains prominent, as Councilman Holden confirmed, and her commitment to maintaining her husband’s legacy is unwavering.
“He loved his neighborhood. Never wanted to leave it, and that’s why he’s here, buried, and we’re here, and I’ll never leave here,” Dawn shared in her remarks.
Jack was humble and often reluctant to stand in the spotlight, Dawn would later share with the Ridgewood Times. However, with the outpouring of support, it is without a doubt he would have been honored with the street naming.
