William R. Joyce, 81
William R. Joyce, age 81, of Acton, died in the comfort of his home on June 17, 2026, of congestive heart failure. He was the loving husband of Kristina A. (Campbell) Joyce for 58 years.
Born in Boston on September 14, 1944, he was the son of the late Stephen Michael Joyce and Marie E. (Ramseyer) Joyce. Raised on South Street in Roslindale, Bill grew up with his four siblings in the same house his mother lived in her entire life. His childhood was filled with wonderful neighborhood memories of his aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends living nearby, and his mother only had to ring a cowbell to call him home for dinner.
During the summers, Bill spent many happy days at the family cottage on Paradise Lane in Halifax, adjacent to Lake Monponsett. Summers included trips to Plymouth, water activities, cookouts, and evening visits with relatives and neighbors.
Later, Bill was a student at Boston Latin with his twin brother Ted, and they were members of the class of 1962. He loved Boston Latin and took great pride in its history as America’s oldest public school.
Bill attended Georgetown University in D.C., earning a BA in government. Inspired by President Kennedy’s famous “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country” speech, Bill spent the summer of 1964 with Crossroads Africa, helping with building projects in Sierra Leone, an experience that profoundly shaped his life.
During Bill’s junior year at Georgetown in 1964, he met Kristina through his roommate and dazzled her by preparing a home-cooked meal of hamburgers and mashed potatoes. Kristina was attending Hood College in Maryland at the time, prompting Bill to buy a Triumph motorcycle so he could visit her more often. He famously wrote about the motorcycle trips to see Kristina on a physics final. On December 30, 1967, Bill and Kristina were married at Trinity Church in Georgetown, a place that held special meaning because of their college years in the area and it being JFK’s parish when he was in D.C.
Commissioned through ROTC, Bill served as a U.S. Army Transportation Corps Lieutenant at Fort Story, Virginia. As an amphibious platoon officer, he commanded Light Amphibious Resupply Cargo (LARC) vehicles — similar to Boston’s Duck Boats. In 1968, he led a heavy amphibious detachment for a hurricane rescue operation in Texas and into Mexico. After earning the Army Commendation Medal, he separated from active duty in 1969 and completed two years in the Active Reserve, retiring as a captain, USAR.
Following his military service, Bill and Kristina relocated to Boston, where he earned a master of arts in political science from Northeastern University in 1971. He then began his career in public service with the Town of Acton, starting as an administrative assistant to Town Manager Paul Flynn. Over the years, Bill took on greater responsibilities, serving as town treasurer, tax collector, and ultimately as Acton’s first finance director. In 1980, he left municipal employment to join the Joyce family’s Boston business, B.L. Makepeace, Inc.
For the next 35 years until his retirement in 2016, Bill was fully involved in the operation and direction of B.L. Makepeace. He served as its president and treasurer, overseeing many changes in the industry, including the sale of the company’s real estate trust property, relocation, and refocus of its mission from reprographics/printing to digital copy management.
Bill enjoyed travel and over the years he and Kristina took many memorable trips together, visiting all of the United States and every continent except Antarctica. After traveling the world, Bill always returned to New England, finding happiness in simple pleasures such as a good lobster roll and Brigham’s ice cream.
Bill is survived by his wife Kristina; his daughter Tara Joyce of Boston; his son Keir Joyce, wife, Joy, and their children, Emma and Ryan, of Ruxton, Maryland; his siblings Edward (Ted) Joyce of Boston, Stephen Joyce of Roslindale, Peter Joyce of Brooklyn, Connecticut, and Bonnie Joyce Hallisey of Medford; as well as beloved sisters-in-law, cousins, nieces, nephews, and extended family.
Family and friends are invited to attend his funeral Mass on Friday, July 17 at 11 a.m. in St. Bernard’s Church at Holy Family Parish. Interment with U.S. Army military honors at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery will immediately follow.
Acton’s town flag will fly at half-staff on July 17 in recognition of Bill’s honorable military service.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Acton Free Public Library online at cfpl.networkforgood.com or by mailing a check and noting it is in memory of Bill Joyce: Acton Free Public Library Corporation, Attn: Development Office, 129 Main St. Acton, MA 01742.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Acton. To share a remembrance or a condolence on Bill’s tribute page, visit DeeFuneralHome.com.
