Marjorie A. Boyd
PORTLAND – Dr. Marjorie Boyd died quietly in her sleep on Sept. 29, 2024, following several years of chronic illness, including renal dialysis. She enjoyed visits with family and friends during her last days. Dr. Marjorie Boyd practiced Hematology in Portland for 44 years and was admired and beloved by all who knew her for her knowledge and devotion to her patients. She was the ultimate caring physician.
Marjorie was born in the Bronx, N.Y., and grew up there and in Connecticut. She attended the High School of Music and Art in Manhattan, N.Y., but upon deciding on a career in medicine rather than art, transferred to Walton H.S. in The Bronx for the science courses she needed. For two years after graduation, she attended Hunter College night classes while working to earn enough money to eventually attend Ohio Wesleyan University where she earned her B.A. Her medical degree was from the State University of New York School of Medicine at Buffalo. Following Residency and fellowships in Internal Medicine in Buffalo, N.Y. and Hematology in Boston, Mass., and as the first Board Certified Hematologist in Maine, she opened her practice of Hematology in Portland in 1972.
In addition to her private practice of Hematology, she succeeded her very good friend and colleague, Dr. Louis Bove, as Director of the Maine Medical Center Division of Hematology in 1972. She and Dr. Bove founded the Hemophilia Program at MMC in 1978, and she served as Medical Director of the Maine Hemophilia Center from 1992-2012. Dr. Boyd had a passion for taking care of those with hemophilia and in 1993 she and Glen Roy, R.N., founded the Hemophilia Family Camp, in coordination with the New England Hemophilia Association.
Marjorie was a born teacher. During summers in college, she taught canoeing at Camp Winona in Western Maine, and at the YWCA in Portland a class of terrified adults, fearful of the water, successfully learned to swim with her guidance. She taught internal medicine and hematology to medical residents, nurses, patients’ families – all with dedication and the unique ability to translate the complex into understandable terms.
Marjorie’s interests outside of medicine were varied and sometimes surprising. Although her undergraduate concentration was pre-med, her “minor” studies were in philosophy and religion and those interests persisted throughout her life and influenced her approach to the practice of medicine. She was a constant reader with a wide variety of interests – and opinions. She was a member of the Chaplaincy Pastoral Education Program and the Ethics Committee of the Maine Medical Center and participated in the “Literature and Medicine Symposium”, also at MMC. Technology was not her friend and both the financial and personal cost of adoption of required technology, along with serious health problems, eventually drove her out of her beloved practice of medicine.
Marjorie’s family enjoyed good food and cooking. She continued this activity, with considerable expertise, throughout her life. She was a baseball fan and had season tickets for the Seadogs from their first year! Growing up in the Bronx she was loyal to the Yankees, but after many years in New England, she cheered for the Red Sox – unless they were playing the Yankees – a serious conflict for her at times.
Marjorie is survived by her brother, Charles (Sandy), of Lexington Ky.; two nephews, Seth (Richard), who lives in New York City, N.Y.; and David (Mara) who lives with his family in Toronto Calif., and David’s children River, Casper and Margot.
She was predeceased by her brother, John.
As her parents were no longer living in her early 20s, she was “unofficially adopted” by the Goering family and is survived also by lifelong friends Mary Alice Goering, her housemate for 60 years, and classmate, Elizabeth Goering Serrage M.D.; and Winnie, her cat.
On Saturday, Nov. 9, at 11 a.m., a memorial service, followed by a reception, will be held at Hobbs Funeral Home, 230 Cottage Rd. in South Portland. All are welcome to share memories and celebrate her life.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the New England Hemophilia Association (NEHA). Checks may be sent to their office or made online:
NEHA
347 Washington St., Suite 401,
Dedham, MA 02026
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