Robert 'Sean' Boylan

<p>Robert "Sean" Boylan was a thoughtful man with a huge love of family, life and fun.</p><p>Boylan, 44, of Middletown, died Nov. 28, while flying, which was one of the biggest passions of his life.</p><p>That Saturday, Boylan had towed a glider pilot into the sky and the two aircraft collided while both were preparing to land. The collision killed both pilots.</p><p>Boylan was born in Sonoma County and raised in Petaluma, where he graduated from Petaluma High School. He met his wife, Leona, while both were junior college students and they married young.</p><p>Leona Boylan said she was extremely lucky to have had so many great years with him.</p><p>"He was my guy for 25 years and I'm thankful for that," she said.</p><p>The couple raised two daughters and Sean Boylan loved sharing with them all the things he so enjoyed, like trips to the ocean and snowboarding.</p><p>He also had a knack for teaching and when it came time for the girls or the nieces and nephews to drive, it was Sean Boylan who had the steady hand and patient attitude, Leona Boylan said.</p><p>He helped coach his daughters' Middletown High School junior varsity and varsity softball teams and loved the days at the high school, even in the rain, teaching teens the sport of rugby.</p><p>"He had a gift of bonding with kids," she said.</p><p>Boylan's interests were varied and many and he did them all well, said family and friends. As well as flying, Boylan loved rugby, surfing, snow boarding, abalone diving and riding his motorcycle. One favorite family photo shows Boylan sitting on his motorcycle with his beloved dog, Trigger, sitting with him.</p><p>Boylan got his pilot's license in 1989 and flew single-engine and multi-engine planes.</p><p>When the family moved to Lake County in 1992, he would often commute to work in Petaluma by air.</p><p>The couple owned Aggressive Drilling in Petaluma. It recently merged with Pacific Coast Drilling.</p><p>On a rugby field, Boylan was known as a fierce, smart player who could make key, unique plays at crucial times of a game.</p><p>He played for both the Petaluma Leghorns and Santa Rosa Rugby Club, including the "old boys" club for players over 35.</p><p>"He was a fantastic player, incredibly aggressive," said longtime friend and fellow player John Nagle of Graton.</p><p>Boylan also played a key role in 2003 and 2004 in helping the Santa Rosa rugby players build an all-weather community sports field in northwest Santa Rosa for area rugby teams.</p><p>"He donated a lot of time and equipment" as well as his contractor's license to the effort, Nagle said. "He motivated you on the field and off the field too."</p><p>The Boylans also were part owners in the land housing the gliderport in Middletown.</p><p>He spent many Saturdays there, working on the property and often towing gliders into the sky.</p><p>"He loved hard, worked hard and played hard. He truly lived his life to the fullest," his wife said.</p><p>As well as his wife, he is survived by his daughters, Seana and Jessica Boylan, both of Middletown; his parents, Marie Boylan of Petaluma and Bob Boylan of Novato and granddaughter Kayla.</p><p>A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Crazy Creek Gliderport.</p><p>Memorial contributions may be made to the Veterans of Foreign War.</p><p>-- Randi Rossmann</p>