Todd Steven Bove

February 11, 1966 – April 24, 2013

Resident of San Leandro, California

Todd Steven Bove, aged 47 years, died peacefully April 24, 2013 of complications from liver disease. He was the husband of Keith Smith and father to Jared Keenan Smith-Bove and Lauren Whitney Smith-Bove.

Todd was born in Bristol, Connecticut on February 11, 1966, the third son of Eugene Julio Bove and Ann Marie (Roberts) Bove. He grew up in a small, New England town of Wolcott, Connecticut surrounded by a close-knit community of family and friends. Todd attended Wolcott public schools and graduated from Wolcott High School in 1984. After high school he attended Tunxis Community College in Farmington Connecticut, receiving his Associates Degree. Taking time off from schooling Todd went on an American Baptist Churches Tour to India in 1987 to visit various missions and learn about Indian customs and culture. He completed his education at Eastern University of St. David’s, Pennsylvania, receiving his Bachelor of Arts degree. While at Eastern he participated in the Prison ministry and Clown ministry, providing opportunities for him to help others, something very dear to his heart. His great love of music led him to sing in the Eastern University Touring Choir and he was Vice-President of the senior class.

After graduation, Todd worked at the world-famous Bloomingdales of New York in 1989, being accepted into the Executive Training Program. The retail industry and numbers were his passion and he worked for Saks Fifth Avenue in New York and San Francisco and later for Nordstrom and William Sonoma of San Francisco as a financial analyst. While in New York City Todd sang with the New York Oratorio Society, performing at Carnegie Hall. He also became an enthusiastic advocate for LGBT issues becoming involved in Act Up, volunteering with the Gay Olympics and the New York Gay and Lesbian Film Festival.

While in New York City, Todd met the love of his life, Keith Smith in 1994, who happen to live right across the street from him in the Broadway Theater district of Manhattan. Both were instantly attracted to each other and planned a future life together in San Francisco, California. To celebrate their love Todd and Keith were united by a domestic partnership, getting “married” under Mayors Willie Brown and Gavin Newsom, having two commitment ceremonies – one in Connecticut and in California – and finally being legally married in the state of California in July 2008.

After a brief stay in San Francisco in 1996, Todd and Keith moved to their first home in Berkeley, California and started their family with the adoption of their son Jared. Three years later and a move to a new home in San Leandro, California the family grew to include their daughter Lauren. Todd was very involved in his children’s education and community, becoming a member of the Roosevelt Elementary School PTA, the school’s LGBTQS (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Straight) Parent Alliance – a group dedicated to building awareness about the diversity of families within the school community. His greatest legacy to the Roosevelt community is the Family Photo Gallery, a loving portrayal of the diversity and beauty of families within the school.

Todd was firmly rooted in his Baptist faith, being raised and becoming a member of the Bristol Baptist Church in Bristol, Connecticut, serving on many boards and committees. When moving to California he joined the First Baptist Church of Berkeley and later Eden United Church of Christ in Hayward, California, where he taught Sunday school, sang in the choir and served on many committees.

As a lover of nature and the outdoors he was a member of the Boy Scouts of America for several years. He was also very involved in the American Baptist Churches Camp Wightman in Griswold, Connecticut, starting as a camper then progressing to counselor, nature director and assistant camp director. While in the role of nature director he was lovingly called “Papa Duck” due to a gaggle of ducks that followed him constantly like he was their mother. He loved animals, raising Mini Lop rabbits and winning a blue ribbon for them at the Wolcott town fair. He passed this love on to his children, often having a host of family pets like dogs, cats, rabbit, fish, turtles, hamsters and ducks.

Todd had a special way of making each person feel instantly welcomed and loved, having friendships that ranged in length from 40 years to the more recent. He was a passionate, funny, impish joker to his considerable army of friends, always ready to tackle any challenge, and a sensitive, dedicated father and husband, ready to befriend all with a quick smile and open heart. He will forever be remembered as a tidal wave of fun, impeccable taste and thoughtfulness.

Todd is survived by his husband, Keith Smith, and his children, Jared and Lauren, all of San Leandro, his parents, Eugene and Ann Bove of Wolcott, Connecticut, two brothers, Paul Eugene and wife Michelle Bove, Mark Robert and wife Shelly Bove, nephews and nieces, Jessica Bove, Mark Bove, Andrew Bove and Raeanne Bove, all of Wolcott, Connecticut, a long-time friend Jill Fekete of Arlington, Massachusetts and a very impressive host of friends across the country from Maine to California that will never forget him.

There will be two celebration of life services for Todd Steven Bove. The California memorial service will be Saturday, May 4th at 1pm at Eden Church - 21455 Birch Street, Hayward, CA 94541. The Connecticut memorial service will be Saturday, May 18th at 1pm at Bristol Baptist Church - 43 School Street, Bristol, CT 06010

In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made in Todd’s name to the Eden Church Camp Fund – 21455 Birch Street, Hayward, California 94541 or Camp Wightman, American Baptist Churches of Connecticut – 90A North Main Street, West Hartford, Connecticut 06107.