SCARBOROUGH — Dr. Louis Gregory Bove, 93, of Portland, died peacefully on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2019.

Dr. Bove was born June 2, 1926, the youngest son of immigrant parents, Bernard A. Bove of Tursi, Italy, and Mary Marcella Kelley of Napan, New Brunswick, Canada. Both experienced the hardships of their backgrounds, but were proud of their heritage and passed that pride to their three children. The family settled in Portland, where Dr. Bove attended the Roosevelt School, Nathan Clifford School and Lincoln Middle School.

In 1944, Dr. Bove graduated from Deering High School as a member of the National Honor Society. He was a dedicated student athlete, participating in cross-country and track. Following graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, serving 15 months as an aviation cadet prior to the end of World War II. He then entered Bowdoin College, graduating in 1948 with honors and receiving the Sumner I. Kimball Prize for excellence in the natural sciences. He went on to Cornell University Medical College and graduated in 1952 as a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society. Later that year, he married Dorothy Price. He entered residency training in Internal Medicine at the Hartford Hospital in Hartford, Conn. His training there was interrupted by the “doctor’s draft” of the Korean War, and he entered the U.S. Air Force as a flight surgeon stationed at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. While there, he participated in exercises at the Nevada Proving Ground and witnessed the last above-ground detonation of an atomic bomb in the United States in 1955.

Following discharge in 1956, he finished residency training at Maine Medical Center. In 1958, he joined the Portland medical practice of Drs. Blaisdell, Herrick, and Storer. By chance, he was asked to care for one of Dr. Herrick’s patients with Hemophilia. At that time in Portland, there were no physicians practicing Hematology, and those with the illness were sent to Boston for care. Not having any special training in Hematology, Dr. Bove attended post-graduate studies on the weekends at the New England Medical Center in Boston and later became the first Director of Hematology at Maine Medical Center, helping to found the Maine Hemophilia Treatment Centers for patients with bleeding disorders. By this time, he had settled with his family in the Stroudwater neighborhood of Portland and, following the death of his wife Dorothy, he married Patricia Baker in 1977.

Dr. Bove authored several articles on Hematology and blood coagulation, was a Fellow in the American College of Physicians, and became Governor of that organization for Maine from 1982 to 1986. He became the senior member of Internal Medical Associates, now InterMed, and received the Laureate Award from the American College of Physicians in 1992. Interested in teaching, he was appointed Associate Clinical Professor at Tufts University and the University of Vermont School of Medicine to work with residents at Maine Medical Center.

In 1997, Dr. Bove retired from medical practice but continued to work at Saint Matthew’s University College of Medicine, and volunteer at the Portland Community Free Clinic. He was active in the Greater Portland community as a board member of the Stroudwater Village Association, 75 State Street, and Piper Shores. He was also active at Wayside Soup Kitchen and Saint Patrick’s Church in Portland, where he was the M.C. of the annual Christmas bazaar for many years. After the end of his second marriage in 2008, he became the life companion of Constance Johnley of Portland until his death.

His family remembers his thoughtful generosity and warmth, his wit, and his tireless work ethic. A natural caretaker, he always had time for friends and strangers alike, making everyone feel equally important. He dismissed flashiness in preference of practicality and found beauty in the commonplace, whether a smooth piece of sea glass or a worn stone. He considered himself fortunate in life and loved his family deeply.

He was predeceased by his parents; a brother, Bernard; a sister, Patricia; his first wife, Dorothy; a son, Thomas; a stepson, Wade; and a granddaughter.

He is survived by his life companion Constance Johnley of Portland; former wife, Patricia Bove of Fryeburg; daughters, Dr. Mary Louise Bove of Colebrook, N.H., and Ann Bove of Starksboro, Vt.; sons, Gregory Bove of Newry, Matthew Baker of Stow, Michael Bove of Portland, and Andrew Bove of Portland; nine beloved grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews and their children.

Family and friends are invited to attend a time of visitation on Thursday, Sept. 26, from 4 to 7 p.m., at A.T. Hutchins Funeral Home, 660 Brighton Avenue, Portland. A memorial Mass will be celebrated on Friday, Sept. 27, at 10 a.m., at Saint Peter’s Roman Catholic Church, 72 Federal Street, Portland. Immediately following the Mass, a celebration of life will take place downstairs in the Saint Peter’s Church Parish Hall.

Please visit www.athutchins.com to view Dr. Bove’s tribute page and to sign his online guestbook.

“Bye for now.”

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Dr. Bove’s memory to: Preble Street Resource Center, 38 Preble Street, Portland or Portland Community Free Clinic, 103 India Street, Portland, Maine.