Rufin Van Bossuyt, Jr.

Rufin Van Bossuyt, (Van to his friends), 89, formerly of Upton, passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 10, 2026 after a long illness. He was a gentle giant whose life was one of service to his family, his country, his employer, his community and causes which consumed him during his lifetime.

Van served in the U.S. Army during the Berlin Wall Crisis, stationed primarily at Fort Devens in Massachusetts. After his discharge, he spent 30+ years as System Arborist with National Grid, where he was responsible for vegetation control management across the system network. He was recognized as a specialist in the industry and was honored with the Utility Arborist Association (UAA) Lifetime Achievement Award for his innovative approach to vegetative management under high power lines, a technique which is still in use today. He served as president of UAA and developed a countrywide network of contacts which was legendary. He was also a founding member of the Edison Electric Institute (EEI) Vegetation Management Task Force. For several years after his retirement, he consulted and often testified as an expert witness in court cases concerning incidents which involved trees and power lines.

In addition to his professional career, Van was committed to public service. He served the Town of Upton as Selectman, Town Moderator and as a member of many town boards. In partnership with the MA Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, he played a role in the successful reintroduction of ospreys and bald eagles to the woods and waters of Massachusetts.

Van’s lifelong passion for forestry began early. His interest in the decline of the American chestnut tree in the eastern forests of the United States and the effort to save and restore this iconic tree captured his attention in 8th grade. He never lost sight of the mission to bring chestnuts back to the Appalachian range from Georgia to Maine. He served on the national board of The American Chestnut Foundation for many years and was a founding member of the MA/RI chapter.

After retiring, Van helped establish a seed orchard of American chestnut trees on the campus of the MA Division of Fisheries and Wildlife Headquarters in Westborough. In 2022, he was honored when the orchard was named for him in recognition of his volunteerism and generous support.

He graduated from Rutgers University with a degree in Forestry. Grateful for the assistance financing his education, he supported others by contributing regularly to the scholarship program of the Rutgers School of Bioscience. He was happiest when he was in the woods at the Upton State Forest or leading walking tours on conservation land in Harwich on Cape Cod. As one person remarked, walking in the woods with Van was like taking a course in dendrology.

Born May 13, 1936 in Morristown, New Jersey, Van was the son of Rufin Van Bossuyt and Elizabeth (Hark) Van Bossuyt. One of six children, he is survived by Victoria Johnson of Florida, David Van Bossuyt and his wife Melinda of California and Joyce Owens of Colorado, as well as nieces and nephews and step-nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his sisters, Elizabeth Ingram of Texas and Ruth Olsyn of Pennsylvania.

Van is also survived by his beloved wife of 39 years, Rena M. Richard, with whom he joyfully explored the world, touching every continent except Antarctica.

Vacationing in the house on Cape Cod and spending time on the water in his Grady White boat made the summers a favorite time of year. But the Westborough orchard was never far from his mind, and he devoted countless hours planting, pollinating, weeding and harvesting chestnut burs when he was in Upton.

When one considers the essence of a man, it is rare to hear words such as - kind, sweet, generous, gentle, quiet – all words used by his peers to describe Van. But they also spoke of his effectiveness as a leader- principled, professional, resourceful, tenacious, a role model who led by example and was highly respected by everyone with whom he worked.

It is a fitting tribute to a good man who made a positive impact on his world and left it a better place for his having been in it. He walked along this path called life and left behind a trail of beautiful memories.

Family and friends are invited to attend visiting hours from 9:30 to 11:00 A.M. on Friday, April 17, in the Pickering & Son Upton Funeral Home, 45 Main Street, Upton.

A Celebration of Life Remembrance will begin at 11:00 A.M. in the funeral home, followed by burial with military honors at Lakeview Cemetery in Upton.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: 

The American Chestnut Foundation, 50 N. Merrimon Avenue, Asheville, North Carolina 28804

OR

New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill, 11 French Drive, P.O. Box 598, Boylston, MA 01505-0598

OR

The Samuel Huntington Fund, Inc., c/o Amy Stacy, 170 Data Drive, Waltham, MA 02451-2222