Burns B. Hovey Sr. ’55 died June 3, 2012, in Newburg, Ore. He was born on November 6, 1933, in Norristown, Pa., song of the late Leland W. Hovey ’26, and prepared for college at the Peddie School and Lower Merion High School, where he was an all-star quarterback for an undefeated team. He attended Bowdoin from 1951 to 1953, a member of Sigma Nu fraternity, and Pierce School of Business Administration, before serving to staff sergeant the Marine Corps. After his discharge, he attended Santa Ana Jr. College and earned a bachelor’s degree at Long Beach State College. He worked in sales and marketing with Disneyland and later Sea World, where he was corporate vice president of retail merchandising. He later served as director of retail store operations for the State of Maine. He was a member of the Elks, American Legion, Masons, and Rotary. He was active as a Little League coach and Junior Achievement instructor. He is survived by four sons, Burns, Jr., John, Greg, and Justin Hovey; and his former wife, Elizabeth Redmond Hovey. He was predeceased by three brothers, John R. Hovey ’55, Leland W. Hovey Jr. ’57, and Donald O. Hovey ’58.
My name is Bruce Johnston and I worked for Mr. Burns Hovey, Sr, while I was Sea World’s corporate merchandise artist at Sea World San Diego. Most impressive man. He used a word “SUPER” when he liked what he was looking at. I continue to use that word. After 41 years as an artist in San Diego, I am now retired and painting in oils, while living in a suburb of San Diego of La Mesa. Mr. Hovey, your influence on my life was… “SUPER.”
BURNS WAS A SUPER GUY, A SUPER FOOTBALL PLAYER IN HIGH SCHOOL, A SUPER FRIEND AND A SUPER PERSON.
TALBOT HENRY