Obituary: The Rev. Paul O. Boger Sr.
The Rev. Dr. Paul O. Boger Sr., of Montclair, died at home surrounded by his family on Sept. 2, 2021. He was 80.
Rev. Boger was born to Eleanor DuBois and Otto John Boger in 1940 and was raised and educated in Yonkers, New York.
He graduated from Gorton High School in 1958 and received a B.A. from Bloomfield College in 1962 and a master of divinity (1965) and doctor of ministry (1985) from the McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago.
He was ordained by the Presbytery of Hudson River of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in June 1965. His pastoral ministry included service at First Presbyterian Church, Greenville, Ohio (1965-1967), Otisville-Mt. Hope Presbyterian Church, Otisville, New York (1967-1971) and Bloomfield Presbyterian Church on the Green, Bloomfield (1971-2002).
He was honorably retired by the Presbytery of Newark in 2002, after which he served as part-time pastor for the United Presbyterian Church of Cedar Grove (2006-2019).
Rev. Boger served as chaplain/staff person at the Woodstock music festival in Bethel, New York, in 1969.
For the Presbytery of Newark, he served as moderator of the Committee on Preparation for Ministry (1972-1974), moderator of the Committee on Ministry (1974-1980), moderator of the Presbytery (1980), commissioner to the General Assembly (1980) and stated clerk of the Presbytery of Newark (2000 to 2006).
At Bloomfield College, he served on the board of trustees (1978-1990), was interim chaplain (1984), founded the Interfaith Chaplaincy Program (1987-89) and co-founded the Interfaith Campus Ministry (1999).
Rev. Boger published the Bloomfield College Alma Mater, “Lux in Tenebris” (1982), and the hymns “O Give Thanks Unto the Lord” (1975), “USA Bicentennial Hymn,” “Glory to God” (1977) and “O Word Who Was When All Began” (1978), all with William N. Simon, composer.
He published his book, “Being There: A Pastor at Woodstock, Then, Now and Tomorrow” in 2009, and was nearing completion of his second book, “Everything Is Connected: God Is Dead, Long Live God at the Time of his Death.”
He received many recognitions: Outstanding Young Men of America (1973), induction into the Bloomfield College Hall of Fame (1995), President’s Recognition Award, Bloomfield College (2002) and Andrew McElwee Award of Caldwell College (2003).
Rev. Boger is survived by his wife, Carolee Palmiotto Boger; three children, Christine Walthers (Mark), Laura Lynn Boger and Paul O. Boger Jr.; a stepson, Christopher Adam Pescatore; four grandchildren, Dylan Boger, Peter Granata, Hudson Walthers and Elaine Walthers; a sister, Nancy Satore Gobel Jones; a brother, Mark Boger (Anne); his first wife, Barbara Ewick, and many beloved nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his sister, Elaine Boger, and his daughter, Leanne Boger Granata.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Sept. 18, in the chapel at the Bloomfield Presbyterian Church on the Green, 147 Broad St. The family will receive visitors from 1 to 1:30 p.m., with the service beginning at 1:30.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Bloomfield Presbyterian Church on the Green for sanctuary restoration.