Boston was born in Providence, Rhode Island, graduated from Moses Brown School there, and attended Harvard.

[6] Boston served in the Third Army, commanded by George S. Patton, and received a Bronze Star and the Legion of Merit,[2] while rising to the rank of major.

[7] Boston returned to Harvard in 1946, coaching the junior varsity football team and wrestling.

[11] During his 16 seasons with New Hampshire, the Wildcats won four Yankee Conference titles,[12] and in 1962, he was named New England small college coach of the year by the Boston Football Writers Association.

[14] He remained active in the Army Reserve, holding the rank of lieutenant colonel in the 1960s while serving as executive officer of the 304th Infantry Regiment based in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.