Robert James Bova

Robert James Bova peacefully passed away on August 31, 2023 at age 96 of natural causes. Born in Marshalltown, Iowa, on June 24, 1927, he was the only son of August and Marie Bova. He served in the US Navy during the last year of WWII and was stationed on Midway Island. When Bob returned home from the war he enrolled in San Jose State University. After graduation, he reenlisted in the US Navy with a direct commission. He was sent to Pittsfield, Mass., to the naval office at General Electric, where he met the love of his life, Elizabeth Callaghan. They married on March 13, 1954.

Bob’s next tour of duty was in Honolulu, Hawaii, where his sons, Christopher James and Robert Francis, were born. While in Honolulu, Bob served in the Korean War aboard the USS EPPERSON, a destroyer. After two years he was sent to Monterey, Calif., where Bob attended the Naval Post Graduate School and where his son, Michael Patrick, was born. The family then moved to Boston, Mass., where Bob began a tour of duty for eight months on the USS GLACIER, a huge ice breaker headed for Antarctica. After returning from the Antarctic, he was assigned to the USS GALVESTON, a light cruiser.

After 10 years of service, Bob resigned from the Navy, and the family moved to the DC area, where his fourth son, John Brendan, was born. Bob continued to support the Navy through his work as a federal employee with the Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington, D.C. He retired from the federal government in 1982.

His love of sports led to his volunteer work coaching hundreds of young athletes in baseball, basketball and football. In the early 1960s, the McLean Boys Club was a branch of The Boys Club of the Greater Washington Area. In 1968, Bob and several other coaches decided it was time that McLean had its own sports league. Working together they founded a new league called McLean Youth Inc. (later the McLean Youth Athletic Association). Bob coached for 20 years and loved every minute of it.

He also volunteered at St. John’s the Beloved Catholic Church (for 40-plus years as an usher); Arlington Hospital (Virginia Hospital Center); Inova Hospital; Udvar-Hazy Air and Space Museum; and Jefferson Golf Course. He also volunteered as an usher at RFK, so he could watch the Redskins play. In his spare time, he enjoyed (and excelled in) making model airplanes and doing crossword puzzles. He lived a satisfying and rewarding life.

He is survived by his wife, Betty, of 69 years; four sons – Chris (Kathy), Bobby, Michael (Carol) and John (Gina); three grandchildren – Eileen, Emily and Patrick (Lucas); and two half-brothers, Norman Mattson (Elaine) and Russ Mattson.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Catholic Charities, Saint Jude Children’s Research Hospital, or the charity of your choice.