By Joel H. Goober ’70

Stephen Boyko, Class of ‘70, died on July 19, 2021, after struggling for several years with Parkinson’s disease.

Steve grew up on the family potato farm in Cranbury, N.J., and was a star high school athlete in football, basketball, and baseball. As an All-State quarterback he led South Brunswick High School to its first state championship. In 2014 he was elected to the South Brunswick Athletic Hall of Fame. He continued his athletic career at Bordentown Military Institute and at Bates as a quarterback and pitcher for the Bobcats. As a senior at Bates he received the Goddard football award.

For 38 years, Steve was the devoted husband of Mardena Ehret. His devotion inspired those who knew him as he lovingly cared for Mardena during her four year struggle with cancer. Throughout his life he remained close friends with Bates roommates Steve Karkos and Joel Goober.

From his days living on the third floor of Roger Bill and over the years in coffee shops while living in Bethesda, Md., and Aiken, S.C., Steve loved to gather with friends to shoot the breeze about sports and current events. He enjoyed traveling with Mardena and sharing special events with his Bates friends and their families. He excelled at golf and, as with all sports, he made it look easy with an absence of perspiration.

After starting his career at the National Association of Securities Dealers and as a stock broker in later years, he became an international consultant on capital markets. His work took him to Ukraine, his family’s ethnic homeland, where he educated the country’s leading finance people about the benefits of capitalism and free markets. In addition to consulting, Steve authored numerous articles on financial issues and a book on the free market system.