Musician, environmentalist, photographer, woodworker, adventurer, guide, canine lover, son, brother, husband, daughter, sister. Michaela Boyce of Northampton, MA., who passed away on May 19, 2024, from complications of Parkinson’s disease was all of these things. As a transgender woman, she sought fulfillment and peace in her transition. Sadly, the progression of Parkinson’s disease interrupted this journey.
Born on October 24,1951, in Derby, Connecticut, Michaela was a graduate of the University of Michigan. She was the child of the late Mary Ellen (Leahy) and Charles Boyce of Andover, MA. Michaela is survived by her former spouse, Patricia Ake Boyce of Ellsworth, Maine, and her siblings: Ellen Boyce (John Moss) of Concord, MA, Dr. Patrick Boyce of Southampton, MA and Anne Boyce of Springfield, NJ. Michaela had many nieces and nephews-Caitlin Moss Coflan, William Moss, Cameron Boyce, Halle Boyce, Meghan Herzfeld and Liam Herzfeld, who she led on many adventures, hiking and camping in the Grand Tetons, Wyoming.
No mountain was too high and no canyon was too deep for Michaela. She loved to hike in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, the Grand Canyon in Arizona, the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone in Wyoming and Acadia in Maine. She appreciated every aspect of nature’s beauty, from spectacular vistas to the smallest wildflower. Michaela’s first job with the Bureau of Land Management took her to Rock Springs, Wyoming. She also served as a guide at the Grand Canyon in Arizona, ski instructor and park ranger in Jackson, Wyoming and letter carrier in Ellsworth, Maine. A virtual Renaissance person, she could pick up an instrument and play, assemble things without a manual and pretty much accomplish whatever she set her mind to. Her passion was the guitar and she taught herself to play by listening to “Play Guitar with the Ventures”, formed numerous bands and played in venues as varied as the Triple O Lounge in South Boston to the Shady Lady Saloon in Jackson, Wyoming.
Michaela truly had a “beautiful mind” and all the challenges that accompany it. She sought perfection in all her endeavors and was often frustrated when life failed to deliver. Her golden retrievers were the beings that seemed to bring her the most comfort and never disappointed-Josie, Loni and Buddy.
In addition, the family would like to give special thanks to Patricia Ake Boyce, Claudia Ciano-Boyce and the staff at Linda Manor for the care they provided to Michaela. We would like to thank J. Aleah Nesteby MSN, FNP for providing excellent medical care for our sister Michaela the past several years.
A celebration of Michaela’s life will be held on Saturday August 3, 2024 at 1-3pm at the Boucher-O’Brien Funeral Home, 7 Pleasant St., Easthampton, MA 01027.
Donations in Michaela’s honor can be made to Yankee Golden Retriever Rescue (ygrr.org) or to Transhealth (https://funraise.org/give/Transhealth%2C-Inc/7d8ae821-b949-4892-ad31-bf4f396536fb/ Trans organization, etc.).
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