On Saturday, August 18th, 2018 Richard “Rick” Allen Boardman Sr. joined his father, Dick, and sister Cindy in heaven. On Valentine’s Day of 1961, Dick and Carolann (Olsen) Boardman brought their only son into the world.
Rick was married for 31 years to Sandy Carlson Boardman. Together they raised three children: daughter Sheri (Greg Lloyd) of Middleburgh, N.Y., daughter Rene (Matt Grosclaude) and son Richard Boardman Jr. of Sheffield. Rick was always there for his children, being especially proud that his two girls are Agriculture Teachers and that his son chose to continue running the 50-year-old family business, Boardman’s Farm Stand.
If he was not lending a hand flipping burgers at the local 4-H Fair, he was driving cattle to a fair, picking sweet corn, chopping corn silage, working on a project, or coaching the girls in youth softball and basketball. Rick volunteered for the Sheffield Fire Department for 32 years, where he served in many officer positions and retired from the department after proudly serving as Chief for 11 years. He was the town safety inspector for many years as well. In 2014, he received the Sheffield Kiwanis’ Lifetime Achievement Award.
Rick loved the outdoors and his agricultural roots. He loved playing softball and was a well known slugger, often times sending softballs off into the sunset during games. The first week after Thanksgiving was always a vacation week as it was opening week of deer season. Many hours were spent with friends and family making memories in the fields, woods and hunting cabins. When Wednesday nights were no longer spent at fire meetings, Rick joined the Wednesday night golf league at Canaan Country Club where he loved catching up with friends. Rick picked up a few lawn mowing clients in recent years and always spent winters plowing snow. He has been employed at RJ Beham Forest Products in Ashley Falls, Mass., where he enjoyed making firewood deliveries, loading containers of wood for export to Asia, operating the log truck and working alongside his brother-in-law.
He leaves behind a loving family including his mother, Carolann “Ma” Boardman, sisters, Deb (Bob) Beham, Carolyn (Tony) Ullrich and Judy (John) Ullrich; sisters-in-law Missy (Sean) Dunnion, Candy (RB) Stiewing, Kim (Bill) Linkovich; brother-in-law Dougie Carlson Jr., and his in-laws, Cris and Doug Carlson Sr.
The family continued to grow over the years as many nieces and nephews joined the family: Jessica (Clayton) Havens, Rebecca (Dan) Hamill, David (Cyndi) Ullrich, Shannon (Chris) Keefner, Carrie (Mike) Chatham, Tim (Stephanie) Ullrich, Jennifer Smith (Justin Elovirta), Cristi (Jim) Pollard, Jeremy Stiewing, Billy (Leah) Linkovich. He also leaves behind many cousins, and great-nieces and nephews whom he loved spending time with, and extended family members.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in Rick’s name to the Sheffield Volunteer Hose Co. #1 or Housatonic Valley FFA in c/o Newkirk-Palmer Funeral Home. The family will receive friends and family from 3-8 p.m. on Friday, August 24 at the Sheffield Fire House, 64 Depot Square, Sheffield. A celebration of Rick’s life will be at the Boardman Family Home, 101 Bridgeview Lane, Sheffield, on Saturday, August 25 at 12 noon. Please dress casually, as Rick would want his life to be celebrated in boots and jeans.
