Dr. Denis A. Boyle, medical aide at Villanova, dies at 89

DENIS A. BOYLE was a doctor of the old school, a man who thought nothing of putting in long hours at his office, then packing his black medical bag, making house calls and checking on his patients in hospitals.

A typical day lasted far into the night. But Dr. Boyle never felt put-upon. He cheerfully did his duty for his patients.

"His concern was always for others, never for himself," said his daughter Mary Denise Curran.

Denis Boyle, who later specialized in physical medicine and rehabilitation, a veteran of two hitches in the Army and a devoted supporter of the Augustinian religious order and Villanova University, died Tuesday. He was 89 and lived in Devon.

He was seriously pro-life in the abortion debate. It was more than a philosophy for him. He was one of eight children, the father of 13, grandfather of 35 and great-grandfather of six.

He was born to Daniel and Catherine Boyle, immigrants from Holytown, Scotland. However, they weren't Scots; they were Irish. Nevertheless, because of their Scottish burr, Denis got the early nickname of Scotty.

Denis attended St. Katherine grade school in Wayne. He studied at the parish high school before winning a scholarship to Malvern Prep, where he was a standout student and athlete.

He went on to Villanova, where he was a member of the Boxing Club. After receiving a degree in chemical engineering, he found he couldn't get a job. So, he enlisted in the Army.

After his discharge, he turned his energies to medicine and enrolled in Jefferson Medical College. He received his medical degree in 1947.

He married the former Barbara Bora in 1947.

Denis interned at Nazareth Hospital, then went back into the Army. He served in the Medical Corps in Denver, Colo.

Back in civilian life, Denis became a member of the staff of Fitzgerald Mercy Hospital, and went on to become head of physical medicine and rehabilitation there in the 1970s.

Denis started his family medical practice in Havertown in the early '50s.

He was medical director of the Villanova University Campus Health Services and also served as physician for the retired priests in residence at the Villanova Monastery.

"His affection for the university, priests, faculty and students was heroic," his daughter said. She said the Rev. Donald F. Reilly, provost of the Augustinian Order, who will celebrate his Funeral Mass, called her father a "living icon of faith." Denis became affiliated in the Augustinian Order in a ceremony in 1975.

After more training in physical medicine and rehabilitation, he interned at the old Philadelphia General Hospital and did his residency at Magee Rehabilitation Hospital. He didn't know that one day he would be a patient at Magee, after suffering back injuries in a traffic accident in 1995. If Denis suffered any pain from his back injuries, nobody ever knew it. "He had such faith in God," his daughter said. "Somebody said he had faith down to his bones."

A person might be forgiven if he couldn't keep 35 grandchildren straight. But, his daughter said, her father "knew all about each one of them."

And he rarely missed a family function. He toasted his five sons and danced with his seven daughters at their weddings. Denis had a lifelong passion for golf and was a longtime member of Llanerch County Club in Havertown.

His wife died in 2004. He is survived by six other daughters, Suzanne Manno, Barbara Hackman, Kathleen McGonagle, Pamela Bemer, Sally Ryan and Sherry Bird; five sons, Daniel, Denis Jr., Timothy, Terrence and Thomas, and his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by another son, Michael.

Services: Funeral Mass 9:15 a.m. tomorrow at the Villanova University campus chapel. Friends may call at 6 tonight at the Stretch Funeral Home, Havertown.

Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, Conshohocken.