Boylan, 82, was last seen at 10:30 p.m. Oct. 20, leaving his home in the 300 block of South Pythian in his 1990 Chevy Suburban, Colorado license plate number 540 PCP. (See photo).
He is now the subject of a senior alert, issued by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation Monday morning at the request of the Montrose Police Department.
  
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“It’s so out of character for him,” daughter Ann Boylan said Monday. “He stays home. He gets Meals on Wheels. He wants to be there for that. I can’t imagine him driving off into the mountains or something like that. I just don’t know what happened.”
She said her father is a “homebody” who does not go out at night because, as police earlier said, he does not see well at night.
However, Tom Boylan is a generous and helpful man, his children said. They are concerned he might have offered to help the wrong person this time around.
They cannot think of another reason why he’d leave his home late at night, likely wearing only a threadbare yellow jacket. Penny-conscious, he would not have left the lights on, unless he planned to come back soon. And he wouldn’t have left behind his heart medication or his cane, the family said.
“He never goes out at night, ever, not in many years,” his daughter Jeanne Boylan, a forensic investigator, said. She is currently working outside of the country and communicated with the Daily Press via e-mail.
“He had to have been summoned by someone, somebody with a flat, or a trouble ... he is one of those ‘good souls’ who people know they can rely on if they need him and is someone they would call if they were ‘in big trouble.’”
Ann Boylan also said her father does not like to be far from the hospital, because he’d previously had a heart attack.
“He would always help anybody that would ask him. We’re just wondering if anybody came to the door and asked him,” she said.
Both women and their brother, Tom Boylan Jr., strongly disagreed with earlier reports their father could be suffering from possible dementia.
“He has some confusion as an older person would ” if the Rockies are on, he might call them the Broncos ” but he’s not walking around with dementia,” Ann Boylan said.
“He’s very bright, completely politically involved and interested in life, functions fine, handles his own finances, lives alone and has never shown me any sign of serious forgetfulness or confusion beyond that of any ordinary 45-year-old,” Jeanne Boylan said.
“I don’t buy it (dementia).”
Boylan Jr. said his father knows who he is and how to get back home. The younger Boylan has spent the past few days driving old hunting routes, even though it’s been decades said Boylan Sr. has been hunting.
From the Black Canyon to Silverjack, Blue Creek, Wetterhorn, Ouray, Ridgway, Beaver Hill, the Flat Top area, the adobes, Boylan Jr. has searched, leaving word with every hunter he encounters.
No luck.
“I’ve got to totally believe that’s just not where he’s at,” Boylan Jr. said. “As much as I hate to admit it, it’s looking more and more to me like foul play.”
He explained that foul play is conjecture at this point, but is sure he knows what did not happen: “I know in my gut that he didn’t drive up into the mountains and disappear, or forget where he’s at.”
The family is asking everyone to keep an eye out for Boylan’s vehicle, which has mismatched, dented panels. The front portion of the vehicle is black; the rear is blue and white. It could be anywhere, under just about any circumstances ” from theft, to a wreck ” Jeanne Boylan said.
“We don’t know, but we can’t discard any possibilities.”
Additionally, the Boylans said a local pilot has been assisting in the search. That man could not be immediately reached for comment.
“We’re trying to find out where he’s at,” Montrose Police Cmdr. Gene Lillard said. “His health is not the best. We’re concerned about his welfare. We’re diligently looking into leads.”
Police on Monday had hoped Boylan might be with a platonic friend of his, but have since located the woman and ruled that out.
Though Lillard said police at this time don’t suspect foul play, Boylan’s disappearance is cause for concern.
“It’s out of character that he would up and take off like this,” he said.
Tom Boylan Sr. is 5-feet, 10-inches tall, 135 pounds, gray hair and brown eyes. Though known to wear suspenders, the ones he had no longer fit as well because he has lost weight.
He always wears white socks with black shoes and usually wears plaid sweat pant-type/fleecey bottoms, which he usually rolls up. He usually wears a plaid shirt.
If you have seen Tom Boylan Sr., call (970) 252-4020 or (970) 252-4021.
Bobbi wrote on Nov 22, 2009 2:50 AM:
its been a long time sense I enjoyed your comments. wanting to know how you get FOIA on an old case unsolved on a family member. maybe you will see this.
I send my condolences to Thomas Boylan’s family that lost their loved one. So very sad. "
LaVelle Corey wrote on Oct 31, 2009 9:38 AM:
Tom Reisinger wrote on Oct 27, 2009 4:40 PM:
I am acquainted with Jeanne Boylan and reside near Boulder. Should any family member wish for me to check-out any possible contacts of Mr. Boylan, please advise. 303.665.3921. "
TimmieSue wrote on Oct 27, 2009 3:41 PM:
Thank you "
Barbara Kirk wrote on Oct 27, 2009 2:34 PM: