DEATH NOTICE

 

HOGABOOM, Ovide G.
NEW BRITAIN, NEWINGTON AND BLOOMFIELD
HOGABOOM, Ovide G. Ovide Gervais Hogaboom, 97, of Duncaster in Bloomfield, died Wednesday (December 19, 2007). He was born in Newark, NJ on February 5, 1910 and was the youngest son of the late George B. and Emma (Gervais) Hogaboom of New Britain. After attending public schools in New Britain, Mr. Hogaboom graduated from Mt. Hermon School in Northfield, MA and went to Wesleyan University and also took additional courses in chemistry and metallurgy in nearby universities. Mr. Hogaboom worked as an operator in the plant engineering dept. of the Stanley Works and the Farmington River Power Co. before his 40 years at the New Britain Machine Division of Litton Industries as foreman of the Industrial Electroplating Dept., and then Chief Metallurgist and Head of the laboratory. He was a life member of the American Society for Metals and was chairman of its Hartford Chapter in 1946-7 and the New England Regional Council. He was also a Life member of the American Electroplaters Society and a former member of the American Society of Fabricating Engineers. Mr. Hogaboom was a longtime member of the South Congregational Church in New Britain and served as Deacon and on the Board of Managers of the Erwin Home. He grew up in Scouting and was a Scoutmaster for several years. In 1952 he moved to Newington where he became an active member of the Church of Christ, Congregational where he served as a deacon. After moving to Duncaster in 1986, he joined the First Congregational Church in Bloomfield. His wife Helen Hogaboom predeceased him in 2002 after over 65 years of marriage. He leaves four nieces and one nephew in Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New Hampshire, their children and grandchildren. His funeral service will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Newington Memorial Funeral Home, 20 Bonair Ave., Newington, CT with the Rev. Allen Tinkham officiating. Interment will be in Fairview Cemetery, New Britain. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to a charity of the donors choice. To share a memory please visit us at: www. newingtonmemorial.com
Published in The Courant: 12/20/2007

Remembering Ovide Hogaboom
Some 40 years ago, on a very foggy Christmas Eve, we and relatives were gathered in our living room when we heard sleigh bells.
I went to investigate. He came out of the fog in full regalia and asked to see the children, he gave each an orange and did the same for others in the neighborhood.
None of us will ever forget that evening.
Sadly, Ovide Hogaboom passed away [Dec. 19]. He was 97 and had no children of his own.
His "orange" trips were not mentioned in his obituary. I am writing this so that others may rember him an to remind all how a simple gift can give so much joy.
Rest in peace ye merry gentle man.

Frank R. Sampl
Newington
Published in The Courant: 12/31/2007