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Science professor, outdoorsman
Freeman C. Bovard, who helped establish the Joint Science Department of Claremont McKenna, Scripps and Pitzer Colleges in the 1950s, died on February 16, 2008 at Mt. San Antonio Gardens.
Mr. Bovard, a longtime Claremont resident, was 86 at the time of his death.
Born on July 18, 1921 to John F. and Camille Bovard, Mr. Bovard and his sister, Jeanne, spent their childhood and teenage years in Eugene, Oregon, where his father was a highly respected professor at the University of Oregon. His grandfather, Freeman Daily Bovard, and two of his grandfather’s brothers, were early vice presidents and presidents of the University of Southern California.
At an early age, Mr. Bovard inherited a love of the outdoors from his father, with whom he backpacked the Cascades and fly-fished lakes and rivers of the Pacific Northwest, including the McKenzie and the Deschutes.
In 1943, Mr. Bovard graduated from Pomona College with a degree in chemistry, following this with employment as a junior chemist at Shell Development in the Bay Area. He also served with the Coast Guard Reserves Auxiliary Afloat during World War II, patrolling the San Francisco Bay. After the war, he married Rosemary Grube and moved to Iowa State University where he earned a PhD in biochemistry and bacteriology in 1952.
After completing his PhD, Mr. Bovard worked as a research biochemist for E.I. DuPont de Nemours, Inc. in Wilmington, Delaware. During this time, Mr. Bovard and his family renovated and lived in an old schoolhouse in rural Pennsylvania.
In 1955, Mr. Bovard returned to Claremont where he joined Professor Leonard Dart in establishing the Joint Science Department of The Claremont Colleges. According to a memo circulated among colleagues, he was well respected as a mentor and teacher who did everything he could to help his students be successful both in the classroom and in life. His family echoed this sentiment, noting that he loved to teach and thoroughly enjoyed his time with students.
Together, Mr. Bovard and Mr. Dart built much of the equipment utilized for laboratory and classroom research and instruction, often using glass scraps collected from the glass factory in south Claremont to make beakers and other essentials.
In the Claremont community, Mr. Bovard and his family became active in the Claremont Presbyterian Church. Not only a member, he also served as an elder and participated in the lay-leadership of the church.
His love of the outdoors, ignited during his youth, endured for a lifetime and was shared with his wife and family. Together, they enjoyed camping trips throughout the country. His son, Tim Bovard, remembers waking up in Yellowstone Park and seeing grizzly bear paw prints on the front windshield of the 1959 Volkswagen van that Mr. Bovard had customized for camping. In 1961, during a sabbatical year in which he conducted research at the University of Washington in Seattle, he and his family took their first backpacking trip in the Olympic rainforest. It was also during this time that Mr. Bovard taught his son to fly-fish.
In the 70s, Mr. Bovard led hikes for the Sierra Club and became known for his meticulous preparation and broad knowledge of the outdoors. Also during this decade he became an active member of the Friends Meeting in Claremont where members appreciated his gentle nature and willingness to work in support of the Meeting House and to help anyone at anytime.
In 1986, Mr. Bovard retired from teaching. During his academic career, he received numerous national research fellowships and served as an evaluator for the National Science Foundation. In 2000, when he was awarded an honorary life membership in the Claremont McKenna College alumni association, the resolution noted that he was a “dedicated professor who assisted his students both in and out of the classroom and made the study of science relevant to economics and social science majors.”
Mr. Bovard and his wife, Bonnie, moved to Mt. San Antonio Gardens in 1990. There, he worked in the woodshop, repairing furniture and other items for the sales room at MSAG. He and his wife, who died in 1991, also helped in the MSAG library.
Always a kind, courteous and caring man, Mr. Bovard’s struggle with Alzheimer’s disease during the last few years of his life did not alter these core personality traits in any way.
“He was always helpful and had a certain radar for those who needed help,” said his daughter-in-law, Deborah Ellens. “Even with Alzheimer’s reducing what he could think about, he would still see somebody across the room that needed a chair pulled out or needed something. He was a true gentleman no matter what.”
Ms. Ellens also noted that her father-in-law was a humorous man, but never used a sarcastic tone.
“It was always in a friendly, supportive kind of manner,” she said.
Mr. Bovard is survived by his daughters and sons-in-law, Linda Bovard and Warren Colvin of Eugene, Oregon and Karen Bovard and Greg Pyke of Middletown, Connecticut; by his son and daughter-in-law, Tim Bovard and Deborah Ellens of Claremont; by his wife of 15 years, Lenore Bovard of Pomona/Claremont; by his wife’s children, Ed Eberle and his wife Vicky Eberle of Buena Vista, Colorado and Nancy Eberle of Olympia, Washington; and by his 8 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
“All of [the family] will cherish the memory of his quiet smile, his sweet spirit and willingness to help others, as well as his humorous puns,” the family wrote in a remembrance.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 15, 2008 at the Friends Meeting, 727 Harrison Ave., Claremont.
