07/18/2026
Dennis Keith Boyer
Dennis Keith Boyer, age 71, passed away peacefully on July 12, 2026, in Melbourne, Florida, with his wife of 32 years, Regina, by his side. A brilliant engineer, a self-made entrepreneur, and a deeply devoted family man, Dennis lived a life defined by curiosity, hard work, and an unshakeable love for his family.
A Yinzer Forged by Steel
Born on February 23, 1955, in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, Dennis was the third of eight children born to the late Robert and Barbara Boyer. His childhood was full of classic Western Pennsylvania adventures, like swimming in the Monongahela River, attending Catholic school down the road from home, and standing on a hillside with his dad and siblings to watch President John F. Kennedy’s motorcade drive down Route 51.
Driven by a fierce work ethic, Dennis became an entrepreneur immediately after high school, founding the Boyer Equipment Company, a freight trucking business that he successfully owned and operated for nearly a decade.
A Passion for Learning and Flight
Dennis was a massive proponent of education, a value he beautifully demonstrated by returning to school while continuing to work. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering with a Minor in Mathematics from the University of Pittsburgh. His insatiable thirst for knowledge then led him to North Carolina State University, where he achieved the extraordinary feat of earning three master's degrees: in Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineering, and Electrical Engineering. Though he could have been, Dennis was too humble to become a member of Mensa.
Dennis spent his career solving complex problems across Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Florida for various technology and defense contractors. He started with the State of North Carolina and ultimately capped off his brilliant career as a Lead Software Engineer 5 at L3Harris working on the F-35 aircraft program.
A true transportation enthusiast, Dennis loved anything with an engine—motorcycles, jet skis, and, most of all, his Beechcraft Bonanza A36 airplane, which his family called “BoyAir.” He loved the adventure of flight, making regular trips to Key West, and flying his family to Ocracoke, North Carolina and all the way to San Diego, California.
The Ultimate Dad
For all his technical brilliance, Dennis’s greatest joy was being a father. He was a constant, hands-on presence in his children's lives, and his daughter’s friends would always refer to him as “America’s Dad.” He went on every single school field trip, regularly brought lunch to and ate with his kids at school, and was an invaluable resource for their toughest college STEM classes.
His weekends were reserved for family adventures. Dennis hand-built his children's swing set and sandbox, cut a go-kart path entirely around the house, and once spent an entire summer cleaning out an uncle’s pool just so the kids could swim. He took them camping, canoeing and fishing (even if they never caught a single fish), and spent countless hours riding bikes at Blue Jay Point County Park, shooting hoops in the driveway on Norwood Rd and playing dodgeball wall, which may have resulted in a broken window or two.
Later in life, he drove up the Atlantic seaboard twice to help his daughter relocate and launch her career in Boston and took frequent flights with his son to watch the Carolina Hurricanes in Raleigh.
A True Original
Dennis was a man who lived firmly in the "here and now." He preferred action movies and modern pop music but still had a fondness for Nickelback and Creedence Clearwater Revival. He was a master of the "Dad tax," the inventor of the hilarious "rolling worm" maneuver on the backyard trampoline, and a passionate viewer of YouTube videos about fixing cars and flying planes.
He was famously unpretentious about food. Dennis loved easy meals—frequently eating out of a can of beans with a spoon or devouring avocados without a spoon. On weekends, he showed his love by whipping up crispy eggs and "experimental pancakes." He had a lifelong love affair with Diet Coke, Lindor truffles, pineapple upside-down cake, and midnight glasses of milk with his daughter.
When a job offer brought him to Florida, Dennis accepted it the moment he saw his first palm tree. Living in the Sunshine State, working on his saltwater pool, and looking out at the palms, he truly felt he had "made it."
Family and Legacy
Dennis is survived by his beloved and faithful wife of 32 years, Regina, and his devoted children, Calla (and her partner, CK) and Chad. He was proudly the favorite son-in-law of Nita.
He is also survived by his siblings, Bob (Theresa), Patty (Sean), and Paul (Sandy); his brothers- and sisters-in-law, Amy, Leah, Stu (Lenlen), Elaine, and Ted; his nieces and nephews, Bonnie, Sean Jr., Sara, Nicole, Anna, Sean (Jenny), John, Krisahn, Dennis, Belle, and Alan; and his great-nephew and great-niece, Milton and Josie. He is also survived by his uncle and aunt, Babe and Pat, a large network of extended family members and friends, and his beloved pets, Oscar and Stella. A special recognition as well to his lifelong friends Dave and Cindy Stuebner and their beautiful family.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Bob and Barbara; his father-in-law, Tom; his brothers, Tom, Barry, Jim, and Dave; and his loyal past pets, Lora, Bugsy, and Quincy.
Services and Gratitude
The Boyer family wishes to extend their deepest, heartfelt gratitude to the entire team at the infusion center at Viera Hospital, with special thanks to Dr. Sean Kearin, Dr. Brendan Prendergast and Tasha for their exceptional care and compassion.
A funeral service to celebrate Dennis’s remarkable life will be held on Monday, July 20, 2026, from 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM at:
Beckman-Williamson Funeral Home
5400 Village Dr.
Rockledge, FL
In honor of Dennis’s lifelong passion for STEM and his desire to inspire future engineers, the family asks that you skip flowers and instead contribute to the Florida Institute of Technology College of Aeronautics to train the next generation of pilots.
Link for donations: Florida Institute of Technology College of Aeronautics
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