JOHN S. "MR. B" BOUTILIER

BOUTILIER, JOHN S. "MR. B" August 22, 1926 to February 19, 2012 Loving husband, father, and grandfather, remarkable teacher, athlete, boxer, artist, farmer, handyman, builder, golfer, party-giver, star-gazer, and hammock-swinger. A man who enjoyed life. John S. Boutilier, "Mr. B" to all his students, died peacefully on Sunday, February 19, 2012, at his favorite place - his home on an acre in El Cajon. John was born in Quincy, Mass, the second of four sons born to Frank Napeen Boutilier and Matilda E. MacDonnell. He was raised in West Roxbury, Mass. and attended Boston English High School where he participated in many sports. Upon graduation from high school in 1944, John joined the Navy and trained at Williams College, Great Lakes Naval Training Station and Ft. Pierce Florida, where he qualified to be a member of the Scout and Raiders, which later became the Navy SEALS. He finished his Navy service in Hawaii and witnessed the testing of the atomic bomb on Bikini Island. While in the Navy he began boxing for recreation - a sport he excelled in. With the GI Bill he studied at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Realizing that art would be his hobby, and not his career, he applied and was accepted to Boston University with a football scholarship. While a student there, he continued to compete in boxing matches. In 1950 he won the New York Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions. In 1951 he won the U.S. Amateur Light Heavyweight Championship. He graduated from Boston University in 1953 with both a bachelors and masters degree in education. His first teaching position was at Girard College in Philadelphia, a boy's boarding school for grades 1 - 12. In 1955 he headed west and accepted a position with the Cajon Valley School District to teach elementary school students. He purchased a small house on an acre of land in El Cajon and called it "The Lone Boot Ranch." In 1962 he married Betty Bjorklund, a Cajon Valley teacher originally from the Chicago area. Together they raised two children: Lisa Ellen, born in 1964 and Peter John, born in 1968. For 33 years he was a caring and creative teacher who fostered a love of learning by making learning fun. For most of those years he taught at Madison Avenue Elementary School in El Cajon. He retired in 1988 with special recognition from his students, their parents and his fellow staff. John loved his life with his wife and family at his home on the same acre of land he purchased in 1955. And he said that it was teaching that made it all possible. He will be missed by many. He is survived by Betty, his wife of 50 years, his daughter Lisa (Mark) Telles of North Tustin, CA, his son Peter (Gracia) Boutilier of Cabo San Lucas, B.S., Mexico, granddaughter Sophia Telles, grandson, John Peter Boutilier and granddaughter Jackie Boutilier; brothers Franklin (Barbara) Boutilier of Nokomis, FL, and Richard (Judy) Boutilier of Guilford, CT, three nieces and two nephews and many cousins in Northern Ireland. He was preceded in death by his brother, Robert Boutilier. At John's request there will be no service. A celebration of his life will be held at a later date. Memorial donations can be made to Sharp Hospice Care, P.O. Box 1750, La Mesa, CA 91944.