Howard F. McGovern

McGOVERN Howard F., 80, of River Edge and Palm City, Florida, and formerly of Oradell, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, April 14, 2009 surrounded by family. He was born in West New York, on February 15, 1929, to George and Mary Jane (nee Taigue) McGovern.He graduated from St Joseph High School, West New York and received a BA from Fordham University. He was a Sergeant in the Marine Corps and served during the Korean War. Along with his brothers, he owned and operated G.T. McGovern Trucking and Warehouse Co., Inc.He was the loving and cherished husband for 56 years of Therese (nee Markey). He was a loving and devoted father of MaryBeth and her husband Stephen Budra of Ashland, MA, Thomas and his wife Janet of Oradell. Jack and his wife Ann of Oradell, Patti and her husband Peter Hill of Oradell, Bill and his wife Colleen of Ashland, MA, Jim and his wife Lauren of Oradell, Robert and his wife Kelly of Falls Church, VA. Michael and his wife Kristy of Oradell, and David and his wife Melanie of Sparta. Mr. McGovern was the adored grandfather of 27 grandchildren known to them as "Guppy." Dear brother of George of Moss Creek of S.C. and Oradell, May Best of Columbus NJ, Charles and his wife Mary Anne of Stuart Fla. and Allendale, and Betty Black of Southington CT. He was also survived by many loving neices and nephews.Mr. McGovern was a former member of Hackensack Golf Club. He served as the first Chairman of the Board of Directors of Bergen Catholic High School and cofounded the B.C. Touchdown Club. In 1994, he was inducted into the B.C. Hall of fame. He and his family were honored by the Metropolitan Golf Association as the Golf Family of the Year in 1996. In 2007, he was inducted into the St. Joseph of the Palisades Hall of Fame on the sixtieth anniversary of their Basketball State Championship title.His greatest pleasures were watching his children and grandchildren participate in sporting events at every level. He especially enjoyed traveling the country to watch his sons play in college and professional football games and PGA golf tournaments. He was an avid golfer, and loved playing gin rummy with his closest friends.Family will receive friends at the Beaugard Funeral Home 869 Kinderkamack Rd River Edge, NJ on Saturday and Sunday 2-4, 7-9 PM. A funeral mass of Christian burial will be held on Monday by Father Earle Markey, S.J brother in law of the deceased at 10 AM at St Joseph R.C. Church in Oradell where Mr. McGovern was a faithful parishioner. In lieu of floral tributes, donations in Howard's memory may be made to Bergen Catholic High School.