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Taking early retirement did not mean any slackening of pace for John Boyle '66, who covered 2,200 miles on a cross-country walk earlier this year. He began in Carlsbad, Calif. Feb. 15, traveling through eight states by the time he finished in Jekyll Island, Ga., May 25.
Boyle walked 1,000 miles in Florida to train for the challenge, but it did not prepare him for climbing and descending hills. On the fourth day, he developed a severe blister while coming down California mountains. He left that setback behind when he faced other hardships, including the equivalent of seven days walking in the rain, and temperatures as high as 95 degrees Farenheit with 90 percent humidity.
Boyle took early retirement in 1995 from his job as manager of engineering and manufacturing at Lucent's Muhlenburg, Pa. facility. The next year, he completed a cross-country bicycle trip. In 1997, he set out to walk the Boston marathon, but was sidelined by a ruptured disk. He wore out six pairs of shoes during the journey and consumed over 100 ounces of Gatorade daily in hot weather. He was accompanied at times by a friend who walked or biked 1,700 miles of the distance, and by van drivers who set him up with provisions and motel stays.
Boyle took classes part-time for nine years to earn his mechanical engineering degree from Lafayette, which he said helped him advance in his 38-year career with Bell Labs, AT&T, and Lucent. “When I'm told I can't do something, I go right ahead and do it.”
