Submitted by Suanne Z. Thamm
Reporter – News Analyst
Former District 2 Nassau County Commissioner Mike Boyle passed away on Sunday at Baptist Nassau Hospital. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, December 9, 2016, at St. Michael’s Roman Catholic Church in Fernandina Beach, Florida. He will be laid to rest in Bosque Bello Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 4-6:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 8 at Oxley Heard Funeral Home on Atlantic Avenue in Fernandina Beach.
Mike Boyle served as County Commissioner for District 2 from November 21, 2006 through November 15, 2010. Because of his leadership ability, he was appointed by his colleagues to serve as Vice Chairman in 2007 and 2009, and as Chairman of the Board in 2010. While in office, he obtained his Advanced County Commissioner Certification through the Florida Association of Counties.
Boyle represented Nassau County on numerous Board & Committees including as Chairman of the Planning & Growth Management Policy Committee, Chairman of the Legislative Committee of the Northeast Florida Regional Council, and Chairman of the Amelia Island Tourist Development Council. He also represented the County on the Florida Regional Council Association.
Boyle worked as an FBI agent for 27 years before coming to Nassau County. During that time he directed business fraud and public corruption investigations. He began his political career in Miami Shores, where he served as Vice Mayor for six years. He also served as Managing Director for the international accounting firm of KPMG, heading up their forensic and litigation practice in Florida.
In announcing his passing in The County Insider (http://www.thecountyinsider.com), Nassau County representative Sabrina Robertson wrote, “Mr. Boyle was a very dedicated public official who worked tirelessly to represent his constituents, as well as all the residents of Nassau County. He gave unsparingly of his time, energy and knowledge in assisting the Commission in any issue that the County faced. He will always be remembered for his kindness and ability to make people smile.”
Although he failed in his reelection bids for Nassau County Commissioner, Boyle maintained his interest in and advocacy for strategic planning and sound budgeting in local government. After leaving office, Boyle continued to champion good government as a regular contributor to the Fernandina Beach News Leader and the Fernandina Observer. He was also a champion for many local projects, such as the remodeling of the Old Jail for expanded use by the Amelia Island Museum of History and the expansion of the city building housing the Fernandina Beach branch of the Nassau County Library.
In speaking about his background and values, Boyle included the following statement on his website www.mikeboyle.org:
“I was born and raised in a small farm town about the size of Fernandina Beach. My mother was a schoolteacher, while my father was the county’s prosecutor and later the circuit court judge. My Christian upbringing taught me to believe a life in public service was an honorable one, requiring integrity and high moral values. A Florida resident for over 35 years, I am married to Dr. Judith Boyle, who is a proud Florida Gator and a Christian Family Therapist.”
So saddened to hear of Mike’s passing. Prayers of comfort and strength to his family and friends. I had the pleasure of having a number of conversations over the years with Mike about various city and county issues. While we did not always have the same viewpoint, Mike was always a gentleman staying focused on the issues and not veering off into personalities. RIP Mike.
God bless Mike’s family. He was always such a nice person.