Gert Boyle, chair of Columbia Sportswear and so much more, passed away Nov. 3 at the age of 95. Her life story is one of perseverance, business savvy and a special talent for connecting with everyone she ever encountered. She was born to a successful Jewish German family of apparel makers that fled Nazi persecution in 1937 when she was 9. Her father started the Columbia Hat Company in Portland, OR. Gert married Neal Boyle in 1948, and Neal joined the small, struggling company. When Neal died of a heart attack in 1970, Gert and her son, Tim, then a ... Log in to view full article.