Greg W. Boynton

Greg W. Boynton was born November 8, 1950 in Santa Fe, New Mexico to Maria Padilla Boynton and William Douglas Boynton. He had one deceased brother Walter Boynton, and two living half-siblings, George Boynton and Margaret Potts. He has two children, Shamarie Boynton Dickerson and Shalyn Boynton Edwards. Greg is survived by his beloved cat, Spitfire, who sorely misses him. Greg attended St. Francis Parochial School and was an altar boy at the Cathedral. He went to Harrington Junior High School and graduated in 1968 from Santa Fe High School. Greg joined the Army but due to an early childhood medical condition he was “Honorably Discharged.” So desirous was Greg to serve, he joined the Santa Fe Police Department as a Police Dispatcher. Then at 21 years old he graduated from the New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy in 1972 to begin his career as a Santa Fe Police Officer. In 1984, after moving through the ranks from Police Officer to Sergeant to Major in twelve short years, Greg attained the office of Assistant Chief of Police at the age of 34. He was also honored to attended in 1985, the FBI National Academy training in Quantico, Virginia with other recognized law enforcement officers from around the country for an intensive three months training. Greg was extremely proud of this accomplishment. He made lifelong friends, “The Unwanted Eight Plus One,” who shared this extraordinary experience and other boyish-officer antics while at the FBI Academy. Greg’s meteoric career in law enforcement was salt and peppered with regular attendance at trainings across the country furthering his skills. As a sworn officer, he served as: Detective, Traffic Division, SWAT Team Commander, Armorer, Finger Print Expert, accomplished and prized Marksman. He was responsible for bringing the “BAT Mobile” to Santa Fe. Greg was called upon by Governor King, as were many officers, to breech the walls of the Santa Fe Prison Riot of 1980. Many of those memories of slogging through the bloody water, death and waste still haunted his days. Greg was loyal, faithful, hardworking, loving, and a kind man. It was his kindness that saved the life of his “Pretty Lady” who walked with her “Cowboy” to his final moments on earth. He was a hero in his career and life, and also in her eyes for his courage to face the pain he lived in each day. Their love and commitment to each other are another of spirit’s sacred mysteries. It is still hard for her to believe that he is gone from this life. Dr. Deborah Werenko was Greg’s friend and physician for many years. Her medical support and warmth were balm to Greg’s unrelenting physical pain. Our medical system has so few tools to help someone with the level of physical pain that Greg suffered every day. Greg loved explosives, playing jokes, NASCAR races, hooking ruts, wrestling, collecting baseball caps, and the Dallas Cowboys. He enjoyed decorating for and celebrating Halloween and collecting Christmas ornaments for his tree. In the years of his disability, Greg watched a lot of television saying that he was making up for all the shows he’d missed when he worked. Greg was all country in his talk, his walk, his boots, his clothes and his love of country music. He was a big fan of Clint Eastwood and John Wayne. He’d watch “The Alamo” again and again truly believing in his heart that he was there in another lifetime, just as he imagined that he stood with General Lee on the battlefield during the Civil War. Greg was a born warrior and his biggest battle in later years was the battle with his physical disability and pain. Many of the activities that Greg loved to do – hunting, bowling, gardening, basketball – became progressively impossible after the accident injuries he sustained from stopping a drunk driver on Christmas Eve while on duty many years earlier. With 23 years of service to the citizens of Santa Fe, he retired with the permanent rank of Captain. For more than twenty years, Greg longed to return to his career every day of his retirement, and stand with his blue brothers and sisters. He was born for his law enforcement career, and it was cut too short for his liking. Greg said that he wouldn’t change anything that he had done in his career even though the consequences of some for those choices cost him dearly. Greg had an indomitable spirit and will to live to 100 years old. He may have made a 100 years old on sheer will alone if not for the many months of medical complications that took his life. Greg died at UNM Hospital on September 18, 2016 at 65 years old. The nurses and physicians of UNM’s Medical ICU are an amazing team of providers, and they have our gratitude for their extraordinary care at a complicated time. A Mass for Greg will be celebrated at Santa Maria de la Paz Catholic Community Church on Richards Avenue on October 20 at 12:15 p.m. with a reception to follow at the Fraternal Order of Police at 3300 Calle Maria Luisa off Airport Road.