Joseph Richard Bove, M.D. died peacefully at Whitney Center in Hamden, CT on February 1, 2016. Born April 23, 1926 in Orange, New Jersey, he was the son of first generation Italian immigrants, Joseph and Amelia Bove. He is survived by his three children and their spouses, Bruce and Sandy Bove of Brandon, Vermont, Susan and Robert Kinney of Bend, Oregon and James and Karen Bove of Jericho, Vermont. He is also survived by his 6 grandchildren (Claire and Meredith Bove, Sam Kinney, and Kate, Gretchen and Hayden Bove) as well as one great-grandson (Mateo Nelson). He was pre-deceased by his wife Nancy Harrison Bove and his parents, Joseph and Amelia Bove.

Joe entered the Navy immediately after high school, serving as an electrician's mate for 2 years in the Philippines. He then returned home and enrolled in the University of Maryland, where he received his medical degree. After medical school, he completed an Internal Medicine residency at Dartmouth Medical School, followed by a fellowship in Hematology at Massachusetts Memorial Hospital in Boston. He served as professor and director of the Blood Bank and Transfusion Service at Yale University Medical School from 1959 until his retirement in 1992.

Joe met Nancy when she was a camper and he a counselor at a summer camp in the Adirondack Mountains. They were married in 1952 until the time of Nancy's death in 2007. Their marriage was founded on a mutual love and respect for each other and support of each other's passions and callings. After retirement, Joe continued to pursue his passion for fly-fishing and he and Nancy spent many happy days together traveling, birding, and enjoying time with friends.

Joe will be remembered for his fierce dedication to hard work, his integrity in the face of difficult decisions and his high standards for excellence for himself and others.

A memorial service celebrating his life will take place at the Unitarian Society of New Haven in Hamden, CT on Saturday, February 27th at 3 p.m. His family would like to thank the staff at Whitney Center for their kind and compassionate care and attention as well as Dr. Michael Bergman for his dedication and understanding.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Unitarian Society of New Haven, 700 Hartford Turnpike Hamden CT 06517, or Columbus House, 586 Ella T. Grasso Boulevard, New Haven, CT. To sign the online guestbook please visit hawleylincolnmemorial.com.