Robert (Bob) Francis Boyle

Robert (Bob) Francis Boyle of Sandpoint, Idaho, passed away on July 20, 2018, at the age of 74 due to a rare brain infection. He was born on March 24, 1944, in San Diego, Calif., to the late Thornton and Marian Boyle.

He met his wife Francesca (Frannie) Agnello-Boyle in 1985 in Sebastopol, Calif. Bob and Frannie were married June 10, 1989.

They moved to Sandpoint in 1994 after visiting a local ashram and falling in love with the area’s quieter existence and natural beauty. Bob was dedicated to living a balanced life and meditated most of his life. He and Frannie followed a spiritual master for many years, establishing lifelong friendships with those on the path. Bob recently returned to the Catholic church, while Frannie is a recent convert to Catholicism.

Together they shared a deep love of animals, rescuing and adopting a wide assortment of pets, including horses, potbellied pigs, dogs, cats, and Wally, the disabled field mouse.

They shared many special moments swing dancing in town, bike riding, boating on Lake Pend Oreille, and cross-country skiing. Bob loved to ice skate and snow boarded into his 60s. He also participated in horse team penning events.

Bob graduated from San Diego State University in 1967 with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. Later that year, he began his career in public accounting with Peat Marwick Mitchell & Company and soon achieved his CPA.

In 1974, he moved to the Russian River town of Monte Rio in Northern California with his family to be a hippie. A year later, tax season came around, his third child was born, and he resumed his workaholic tendencies. He bought an accounting business in Sebastopol, grew it and relocated it to an office building he developed.

After 20 years in Sebastopol, he hoped to slow down and decided to work for an accounting firm when he and Frannie arrived in Sandpoint. That didn’t last long and once again, Bob had a growing practice of his own. Most recently, Bob worked for Williams & Parsons, PC.

Outside of his accounting career, Bob enjoyed being part of the Sandpoint community. Over the last 15 years, he supported the Festival at Sandpoint music festival as a board member and as president.

Bob was also a consummate renovator, remodeler, restorer, fix-it upper. He got his start flipping houses. His latest joy was wandering Sandpoint’s back alleys during lunch in search of old equipment and vehicles to restore and sell. A few years ago, he picked up a vintage camping trailer for his daughter and spent many loving hours in his shop on Mt. Baldy rebuilding it.

Bob loved all people and they loved him back. The ultimate jokester, he got an early start in life teasing his two sisters, Melanie and Kathy, followed by his three children, Jennifer, Daniel, and Catherine, his wife Frannie, his five grandchildren, and thousands of other unsuspecting people. He was voted “best sense of humor” class of 1962, Helix High School, La Mesa, Calif.

Bob made a quick and dramatic exit as only Bob could do. On a warm Sunday, he and Frannie enjoyed a bike ride. The next day he was hospitalized and he passed away 12 days later within a minute of being removed from life support.

Bob is already missed by countless family members, friends, colleagues, classmates, those he mentored over the years, and his fur family, including Herbie, Lulu, Mama Kitty, and Chico. Anyone who knew Bob cherished getting his voicemail greeting to hear his “thought of the week.” His final thought of the week was: “He that leaveth nothing to chance will do few things ill, but he will do very few things.” George Savile.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in honor of Robert Boyle to the Panhandle Animal Shelter, 870 Kootenai Cutoff Road, Ponderay, ID 83852.

The Vigil rosary prayers will be held on Friday, July 27, at 7 p.m. at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Sandpoint.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted by Father Dennis C. Day on Saturday, July 28, at 11 a.m. at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Sandpoint.

Family and friends are invited to sign Robert’s online guestbook at coffeltfuneral.com.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Coffelt Funeral Services of Sandpoint.