Login | March 12, 2025
Mahoning Cty. workers’ comp attorney John Boyd remembered
SHERRY KARABIN
Legal News Reporter
Published: May 30, 2024
An astute workers’ compensation attorney, John Christopher Boyd, scored numerous wins for his clients during his decades-long career, becoming a go-to lawyer for injured workers in Mahoning County, said Lou Schiavoni, of counsel at Schiavoni, Schiavoni, Bush & Muldowney Co.
“John was one of the most knowledgeable workers’ compensation lawyers in Ohio,” said Schiavoni. “He knew the law inside and out.
“He represented employees and I think it made him feel good to represent the little guy against big corporations!
“We practiced in the same area but not at the same firm,” said Schiavoni. “He was a very straightforward guy, who would tell you what was on his mind even if it offended you. I liked that about him. He never pulled any punches with people.”
But practicing law was only one of his passions. His wife, Mary Alice Boyd, said he also enjoyed cooking, working on cars and was an avid football fan.
“John graduated from West Virginia University and he never missed a chance to cheer on his beloved Mountaineers,” said Mary Alice. “He was also a fan of the Cleveland Browns and his adopted team, the Youngstown State Penguins.
“John got interested in cars because he worked in a garage when he was in high school,” she Mary Alice. “After we moved to Boardman Township he and his client built a ‘32 Ford Roadster in our driveway.
“John was a man of many interests and hobbies,” she said. “He spent hours on woodworking projects, loved gardening and was fascinated by Japanese Bonsai trees. He became an accomplished designer and creator of many beautiful Bonsai trees.
“He worked hard and he played hard,” said Mary Alice.
On March 13, Boyd passed away peacefully with his wife Mary Alice by his side. He was 83.
“John was a very good husband and father,” said Mary Alice. “He enjoyed coaching the children’s soccer games. We were married for 56 years.
“John enjoyed his work representing the working man,” said Mary Alice. “Clients were often very grateful. One became his good friend and another painted many beautiful pictures for him.
“John liked people,” said Mary Alice. “He enjoyed talking to them and he was very good at arguing his points. I never won an argument with him in all the years we were married.”
Boyd’s friend and colleague Rick Blair, former partner of Roth, Blair, Roberts, Strasfeld & Lodge, described him as an “extremely trustworthy” lawyer who did his job well.
“John and I were opposing counsel on a few occasions,” said Blair. “He was always upfront with information, upbeat and had a great sense of humor.
“We were primarily social friends and I was quite fond of him,” said Blair, now a mediator. “He was a good man. He will be missed by all who knew him.”
Born in Huntington, West Virginia on May 8, 1940, he was the youngest of Richard and Mildred Boyd’s two sons.
Boyd graduated from West Virginia University in 1962 where he majored in psychology.
He met his wife while attending the school now known as Capital University Law School.
“I was introduced to John through mutual friends,” said Mary Alice. “At the time I was teaching elementary school in Columbus.”
The two were married in 1967 and had three children.
“John bought my ring the day he passed the bar,” said Mary Alice.
After earning his juris doctor, Boyd served as an assistant attorney general in the Ohio Attorney General’s Office in Columbus.
Following the birth of their son Andrew, Boyd and Mary Alice moved to Mahoning County where he joined Traxler Malkoff as an associate.
The firm changed names a number of times over the years, later becoming Boyd, Rummell, Carach, Curry, Kaufmann, & Bins-Castronovo Co.
A member of the Mahoning County and Ohio State bar associations, Boyd served as a role model for many attorneys during his long career, including sole practitioner Kimberlee Kmetz, who described him as an early mentor and a “great” boss.
“John hired me right out of law school,” said Kmetz who noted that at the time the firm was called Boyd, Rummell, Zamary & Carach. “As the eldest senior partner at the firm, John was very supportive. His door was always open if I needed help and, while I was hired to do workers’ compensation, he encouraged me to explore other practice areas.
“John told me that I should not be afraid to make mistakes because that was a part of learning,” said Kmetz, whose office is in Hudson.
“He could be intimidating but he made you feel like he was always on your side,” said Kmetz. “His clients loved him.”
In addition to his many hobbies, Boyd’s wife said he was an animal lover.
“We always had a dog or two,” she said. “We laughed a lot and enjoyed each other’s company,” said Mary Alice. “Our life was never dull.
“John was a wonderful cook,” she said. “I still remember the special cheesy eggs he made for Christmas and when the kids were grown and came home to visit.
“After we retired, we went to Florida every winter,” said Mary Alice. “It was wonderful. I really miss him.”
A celebration of life is planned for Boyd in August.
He is survived by his wife Mary Alice; children Andrew, Amy and Jennifer; grandchildren Patrick, Kate and Finnegan; sons-in-law Brad (Amy) Mason and Scott (Jen) Stephenson; his brother Richard (Malinda) Boyd; brother-in-law David McClelland; a nephew and three nieces and his beloved Havanese dogs Rudy and Baxter.