Milton Charles Boesel, Jr. (“Bud”) passed away peacefully on Thursday, August 8th, in his Leland, Michigan home surrounded by his family. He was 96. Born on July 12, 1928, he was the eldest son of Florence and Milton Boesel of Toledo, Ohio. He graduated from DeVilbiss High School in Toledo in 1946 where he was a member of the State Champion Track Team and was named to the All-Ohio Track Team. He also earned the rank of Eagle Scout, and later served as Scoutmaster for Troop #27 in the Village of Ottawa Hills.
He received his BA from Yale University in 1950 and his JD from Harvard University in 1953. Upon his graduation from law school, Mr. Boesel entered the Naval Officers Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island. He then served three years as an officer in the U.S. Navy aboard ships in both the Atlantic and Pacific fleets.
After completing his naval service, Mr. Boesel returned to Toledo, where he had passed the Ohio, Michigan, and American Bar Association examinations and joined the law firm of Ritter and Boesel, focusing on business law. For a time, he served as Assistant General Counsel of Jeep Corporation. In addition to his law practice, Mr. Boesel served for 23 years as a Director and Officer of the First National Bank of Toledo and its successor organization, Fifth Third Bank. After the merger, Mr. Boesel also served as a Director of Fifth Third Bancorp in Cincinnati for a number of years.
A small business owner, Mr. Boesel spent several years as a Director, Officer and owner of Hall-Toledo, Inc., a machine company based in Maumee, Ohio.
A dedicated community volunteer, Mr. Boesel served for nine years as the volunteer Tax Commissioner of the Village of Ottawa Hills and several years as a vestry member of Saint Michaels in the Hills Episcopal Church. He devoted much of his time to the Boy Scouts of America, serving as a member of the board and executive committee of the Toledo Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America. Mr. Boesel was recognized for his service by receiving the Boy Scouts highest local volunteer award, the Silver Beaver. He also enjoyed serving as a little league baseball coach for many years.
An avid sportsman, Mr. Boesel has been a lifelong water and snow skier, tennis player, golfer, fisherman, and hunter. But his passion has always been sailing. He is a founding member of two yacht clubs — North Cape Yacht Club in Toledo, Ohio and Royal Vicar’s Yacht Club in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida — he has always enjoyed being out on the water.
Mr. Boesel married his “trophy wife,” Lucy Mather, in March 1961. The couple has three children – Elizabeth Sagges (Michael), Charles, and Andrew — and six grandchildren.
Although born and raised in Toledo, Mr. Boesel and his family have been longtime, seasonal residents of Leland, Michigan. Active in the local community, Mr. Boesel served as Board Member and President of the Leland Country Club as well as a member of the Leland Yacht Club and several other local, non-profit organizations.
For the last several years, the Boesels have resided in Vicar’s Landing of Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida where they have maintained memberships in the Sawgrass Country Club, Royal Vicar’s Yacht Club, and Christ Church of Ponte Vedra Beach. The Boesels also maintained their lifetime membership in The Toledo Country Club.
Memorial services will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family requests any memorials be directed to the Scholarship Fund of Vicar’s Landing or Christ Church of Ponte Vedra Beach.
