Alan Boye

Alan Boye, 74, of Barnet, Vermont passed away on Thursday, June 13th. Alan was born in Lincoln, Nebraska to Arthur and Matilda Jean (Danca) Boye. His childhood was spent wandering the towns and prairies of eastern Nebraska, which served as the foundation for his lifelong love of nature and adventure. He attended Lincoln Public Schools and received his Bachelors of Arts and Bachelors of Education from the University of Nebraska.

Alan spent much of his 20s in New Mexico where he worked as an elementary school teacher, a reporter, and a librarian. While in New Mexico, he built a yurt on the high desert and lived there - largely in solitude - for a year. In his 30s he lived in Eugene, Oregon where he met his future wife Linda Wacholder while they were both teaching at Lane Community College. He did graduate work at the University of Oregon before he and Linda, seeking new challenges, moved to El Paso, Texas. He received his Masters of Art in creative writing from the University of Texas at El Paso and became an adjunct professor of journalism.

Linda and Alan moved to Vermont in 1987 with their sons Ben and Andrew. There, Alan began a 30-year career as an English professor at Lyndon State College creating and teaching courses including writing, literature, media law and journalism. At the college, he was instrumental in both setting academic standards for faculty as well as providing guidance on how to become better teachers and scholars. He was a mentor and guide for students. And in one of his classes, he took his students on an annual trip to Walden Pond – a trip inspired by his own love of storytelling and reverence for wandering and writing about the natural world.

Alan was also the author of several books. His lifelong interest in indigenous life, lives, and stories found expression in Holding Stone Hands, a critically-acclaimed account of his thousand-mile walk following the route of the 1877 Cheyenne exodus in their attempt to return to their homeland. His work Sustainable Compromises recounts both the construction of his yurt in New Mexico as well as the off-grid house in Barnet that he built in 2007 with the help of his family and friends. He was also a commentator on Vermont Public Radio, where his segment (later published as the collection Just Walking the Hills of Vermont) highlighted the natural and human history of the state he called home, alongside his own meditations on being in and passing through this world.

A curious, humble, empathetic and welcoming presence to both friends and strangers, Alan dedicated much of his time as a volunteer. In Vermont, he was the driving force behind the creation of St. Johnsbury’s Three Rivers Bike Path, spread his love for history at the Barnet Historical Society, and was a founding member of the Passumpsic Valley Land Trust. Elsewhere in the country, Alan volunteered for the National Park Service and US Forest Service, where he interacted with visitors from around the world about the landscapes he loved to hike.

Alan enjoyed being with his family and friends, riding his bike and exploring the wilderness of both the mind and of nature.

He is survived by his wife Linda; sons Ben (Lowery) and Andrew (Michelle); grandchildren Arlo and Bijou; brothers John, Roger, and David; nephew Paul (Christine) and their children Anna, Emme, and Elle; sister-in-law Barbara and brother-in-law Bob.

Donations can be made to: Upper Valley Zen Center, 58 Bridge St, White River Junction, VT 05001 and/or Passumpsic Valley Land Trust, P.O. Box 624, St Johnsbury, VT 05819.

A celebration of Alan’s life will take place at a time and date to be determined.

Condolences can be shared at saylesfh.com