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Richard John “Dick” Bove Sr.

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Richard John “Dick” Bove Sr.

Birth
Burlington, Chittenden County, Vermont, USA
Death
12 Feb 2016 (aged 78)
Burlington, Chittenden County, Vermont, USA
Burial
Burlington, Chittenden County, Vermont, USA GPS-Latitude: 44.4891302, Longitude: -73.2046849
Memorial ID
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BURLINGTON, VT. - Richard "Dick" John Bove Sr., passed away on Friday, February 12th 2016 at the age of 79.

An iconic Burlington, Vt. businessman was born on May 30th 1937, he was the son of Louis and Victoria (Falco) Bove.

He received his education in the Burlington, Vt. area at Converse School, Cathedral High School Class of 1957, and Champlain College.

Schools, however, were not the only place that Dick Bove learned. On December 7th 1941 when little Dicky was only 4 years of age, his parents opened Bove's Café at 68 Pearl Street in a neighborhood flush with Italian Americans who made their home in Burlington's downtown.

The hard-working Bove, who even made his home over the restaurant during those early days, was an inspiration for countless others as he successfully grew the family operated establishment.

In 1961 Dick married Josephine Bernardini. The couple, proud residents of Ward 1 in Burlington, Vt. for 43 years, had two sons.

While not a politician per se, Dick's old North End notoriety and fame from operating the popular Burlington eatery afforded him the ability to be extremely influential in local politics.

He was instrumental in the 1981 mayoral race in Burlington to cause a split vote and give a 10-vote edge to a relative newcomer by the name of Bernie Sanders.

Dick proudly wore the experience like a badge of honor, and followed Bernie's recent campaign knowing all along his small yet significant contribution to the presidential candidate's history.

Dick amassed a long list of accomplishments as a public servant in his hometown of Burlington. He was the youngest Alderman elected in his day.

He served in the Vermont Air National Guard for 6 years.

Dick was a staunch supporter of the church. He enjoyed directing the televised Roman Catholic Diocese Sunday mass with his brother in law - Ralph Bernardini, Jr for twelve years, and stayed supportive of the Sunday mass for two decades.

Dick was a member of the Cathedral Parish.

He served 2 terms of the Burlington City's Fire Commission, one term on the Ordnance Committee, and was impressively a full delegate member to the Democratic Convention for Jimmy Carter's election in 1976.

Dick was a Past Exalted Ruler and Past District Deputy of the National Elks Association.

While Dick amassed a substantial amount of support for the Burlington community he called home, the most impressive mark that Dick Bove made - and what he will never be forgotten for - was his 65 years of work at the Bove's family business. Dick and Josephine took over the family café as the second generation to carry on the Bove's family tradition. A tradition that Dick was quite steeped in, having started to work at the historical establishment when he was just 13 years of age.

His decades in the kitchen and behind the counter at the café positioned him as a cultural icon earning admiration and respect from decades of other business owners, college students and Burlington residents at large.

His worth ethic was legendary, as impressive at the Italian foods his family continued to churn out and parlay into a respectable packaged foods business today. Dick's presence in his white apron with mussed grey hair at the side door of the iconic Burlington eatery will go on in Bove's fans' memories.

Whether ladling out the signature sauce that he had such an expertise for, or meeting fans as they were shuttled through the narrow counters and the side door, Dick became the beloved Italian father for decades of hungry visitors, college students and a friend to so many Burlington residents.

Arrangements by the LaVigne Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Winooski, Vt.
BURLINGTON, VT. - Richard "Dick" John Bove Sr., passed away on Friday, February 12th 2016 at the age of 79.

An iconic Burlington, Vt. businessman was born on May 30th 1937, he was the son of Louis and Victoria (Falco) Bove.

He received his education in the Burlington, Vt. area at Converse School, Cathedral High School Class of 1957, and Champlain College.

Schools, however, were not the only place that Dick Bove learned. On December 7th 1941 when little Dicky was only 4 years of age, his parents opened Bove's Café at 68 Pearl Street in a neighborhood flush with Italian Americans who made their home in Burlington's downtown.

The hard-working Bove, who even made his home over the restaurant during those early days, was an inspiration for countless others as he successfully grew the family operated establishment.

In 1961 Dick married Josephine Bernardini. The couple, proud residents of Ward 1 in Burlington, Vt. for 43 years, had two sons.

While not a politician per se, Dick's old North End notoriety and fame from operating the popular Burlington eatery afforded him the ability to be extremely influential in local politics.

He was instrumental in the 1981 mayoral race in Burlington to cause a split vote and give a 10-vote edge to a relative newcomer by the name of Bernie Sanders.

Dick proudly wore the experience like a badge of honor, and followed Bernie's recent campaign knowing all along his small yet significant contribution to the presidential candidate's history.

Dick amassed a long list of accomplishments as a public servant in his hometown of Burlington. He was the youngest Alderman elected in his day.

He served in the Vermont Air National Guard for 6 years.

Dick was a staunch supporter of the church. He enjoyed directing the televised Roman Catholic Diocese Sunday mass with his brother in law - Ralph Bernardini, Jr for twelve years, and stayed supportive of the Sunday mass for two decades.

Dick was a member of the Cathedral Parish.

He served 2 terms of the Burlington City's Fire Commission, one term on the Ordnance Committee, and was impressively a full delegate member to the Democratic Convention for Jimmy Carter's election in 1976.

Dick was a Past Exalted Ruler and Past District Deputy of the National Elks Association.

While Dick amassed a substantial amount of support for the Burlington community he called home, the most impressive mark that Dick Bove made - and what he will never be forgotten for - was his 65 years of work at the Bove's family business. Dick and Josephine took over the family café as the second generation to carry on the Bove's family tradition. A tradition that Dick was quite steeped in, having started to work at the historical establishment when he was just 13 years of age.

His decades in the kitchen and behind the counter at the café positioned him as a cultural icon earning admiration and respect from decades of other business owners, college students and Burlington residents at large.

His worth ethic was legendary, as impressive at the Italian foods his family continued to churn out and parlay into a respectable packaged foods business today. Dick's presence in his white apron with mussed grey hair at the side door of the iconic Burlington eatery will go on in Bove's fans' memories.

Whether ladling out the signature sauce that he had such an expertise for, or meeting fans as they were shuttled through the narrow counters and the side door, Dick became the beloved Italian father for decades of hungry visitors, college students and a friend to so many Burlington residents.

Arrangements by the LaVigne Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Winooski, Vt.


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