Dr. Roger Even Bove, retired West Chester (PA) University Professor, political and union activist, classical music aficionado, and beloved husband, father and grandfather has died (4/16/2026). He was 87.
Roger was born on May 24, 1938, to Peter Bove, a business executive, and Beryl Bove, a homemaker. He and his sister, Trudy, grew up in Montclair, New Jersey. After preparing at Montclair (NJ) High School (graduating in 1956), Roger attended Harvard College in Cambridge, MA where he was a member of Leverett House and the Harvard Class of 1960. Concentrating in mathematics, he received his A.B. degree in 1960. Following graduation, Roger remained in Cambridge with his then wife, Susan, attending Harvard Graduate School from which he received an M.A. degree in 1961 and, ultimately, a PHD in economics in 1973.
Roger’s first child Eric was born in 1963 and his second Paul in 1965. Following relocation to New York City in 1968, Roger’s marriage ended in divorce. He taught at New York University and Stevens Institute of Technology and then relocated to work at the US Census Bureau settling in the Washington DC suburbs. After leaving the Census Bureau for several other positions, he returned to teaching, settling in as a professor of Econometrics at West Chester State College (now West Chester University of PA) in 1982. In 1983, he married Patrice (Pat) Magee, the two making their home in West Chester, PA. Their daughter, Jonna Bove, was born in 1985.
Roger was a strong advocate for his fellow professors, participating in and holding office in the West Chester faculty union, APSCUF. When not teaching, Roger was active in politics, serving as a member of the Democratic party committee from West Goshen, PA. Following his retirement from West Chester in 2009, Roger continued his union activities as a member of the Union Retirees’ Association (APSCURF).
Roger had many loves and interests. He was a history and nature buff. He loved attending choral and baroque music concerts and reading and watching science fiction. He was active in Harvard Alumni circles, including conducting interviews of perspective students. He loved to travel, particularly to Cape Cod where he vacationed as a child, but also to central and Eastern Europe where he took a significant interest in the post-communist development of various countries. He repeated and made-up puns and jokes, sometimes of questionable taste. Roger’s greatest love, however, was his family. Survivors include his wife Pat Magee Bove, his children Eric Bove (Virginia), Paul Bove (Meredith), and Jonna Bove (Wes Neal), and his grandchildren Alexander, Juliana, and Jeremy Bove, as well as his sister Trudy Parton (Charles).
The memorial service for Roger will be held on Saturday, May 2nd at 2:00 PM at the Logan Funeral Home in Exton, PA.
In lieu of flowers, donations to honor Roger’s life can be sent to West Chester University Foundation (the Choral Program or the Economics Department) or to Unitarian Church in West Chester.
Modified slightly from the obituary on the Logan Funeral Homes website.
