Retired Deputy Fire Chief, Robert L. "Bob" Gover, Somerville Fire Department, a longtime resident of Stoneham and former resident of Somerville and Malden, entered into eternal life on Thursday, December 8, 2016 at his daughters home following a 2 month courageous battle with cancer. He was 88 years old.
Bob was born in Somerville on May 19, 1928, a son of the late John F. Gover and Eleanor (Leary) Gover. He grew up in Somerville where he was educated at St. Benedict's Parochial School and graduated from Somerville High School. Bob enlisted into the United States Navy on May 31, 1945 and served his country faithfully and with courage during World War II. He was honorably discharged on May 18, 1949 with the rank of Machinist Mate Second Class. Following his discharge from the Navy, Bob joined the Somerville Fire Department in 1950. He rose through the ranks of the department throughout his stellar career as a firefighter and retired in 1993 as a Deputy Chief of the Somerville Fire Department following 43 years of dedicated service to the City of Somerville. In his spare time, Bob was also dedicated to his beloved wife and their 11 children.
Bob is the beloved husband of 65 years to Patricia E. (Kennedy) Gover. He is the devoted father of Mary and Robert Reardon, Boston Firefighter Robert and Joanne Gover, Daniel and Carol Gover, Patricia and William Stoney, retired Massport Fire Department Captain Timothy and Kathleen Gover, Somerville Firefighter Girard and Catherine Gover, Ronald and Christine Gover, Annette Clooney, Christopher and Kate Gover, William Gover and husband Marcus Fenner and the late Joanne Reardon and her surviving husband Joseph. He is the loving Papa to 23 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. He is the beloved brother of Joanne Clifford, Eleanor Long, Retired Somerville Fire Chief John F. Gover Jr., Madelyn Fortier and the late Daniel Gover, Boston Firefighter Michael Gover, Boston Firefighter Paul Gover and Sr. Carol Gover SSND. He is also lovingly survived by many nieces and nephews.
Funeral from the McDonald-Finnegan Funeral Home, 322 Main St. Stoneham on Tuesday, December 13, 2016 at 9 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass in St. Patrick's Church, 71 Central St. Stoneham at 10 a.m. Visitation for relatives and friends will be held at the funeral home on Monday, December 12, 2016 from 4 to 8 p.m. Interment, Puritan Lawn Memorial Park, Peabody.
In lieu of flowers, kindly make a memorial donation in Bob's name to The Little Sisters Of The Poor, 186 Highland Avenue, Somerville, Mass. 02143.