Janet Arnold Boyle

She generously gave time, money and encouragement to local charities and took a lead role in crafting Las Olas Boulevard, as an upscale Fort Lauderdale destination. Wednesday night, Janet A. Boyle, who suffered from cancer for 16 years died among her family members at Holy Cross Hospital in Fort Lauderdale. She was 65. Mrs. Boyle, along with her husband, John "Jack" Boyle, owned the Sunrise Musical Theater, Cellar Door Concerts, Mangos Restaurant and Lounge and JB's on the Beach. But she was best known for her philanthropy. "My wife was one of those people who loved to help other people," Jack Boyle said, "Between us we sent between 50 and 100 kids to college, all without them knowing who sent them." Mrs. Boyle was born in Pennsauken, N.J., and graduated from Pennsylvania State University. She came to South Florida 39 years ago to teach at Florida Oaks, a private school in Fort Lauderdale, where she met her future husband. In 1999 she donated $1 million to Women in Distress. She also bought one building for Planned Parenthood and paid to outfit two others. She funded nine homes for Habitat for Humanity. During a 10-year stint as president of the Las Olas Merchants As...[more]

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iation she established the Christmas on Las Olas festival and helped move an area art fair to the boulevard. "She had strong feelings for Las Olas," Boyle said. "She went store to store and got people to join (the association)." In 2004, the Association of Professionals, Fort Lauderdale/Broward chapter, named her Outstanding Philanthropist, and in 2009, Habitat for Humanity presented her its Heart of Humanity award. Besides her husband, Mrs. Boyle is survived by a son, John, his wife, Katie and three grandchildren. A memorial service will be Monday evening from 5 to 9, at Fred Hunter's funeral home, 718 S. Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale. Interment will be in Pennsauken. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Women in Distress.