July 19, 1932 – February 1, 2019
Dolores (Dodie) Jane Bova passed away peacefully at the age of 86, surrounded by family, friends, and her dog Tippy.
Dodie grew up in Hinsdale, Illinois, and taught herself how to figure skate on the frozen Salt Creek near the Graue Mill in Oak Brook. After graduating from Hinsdale Central High School, she joined Arthur Wirtz and Barbara Ann Scott, traveling across the United States and Canada performing in their show "Hollywood Ice Review." While on tour in Sun Valley, Idaho, she met Philip F. Bova, a musician from Oak Park who was also traveling with the show. They were married in 1954 and celebrated their 59th anniversary shortly before Philip's death in 2013. They resided in Riverside, IL, For 53 years.
After her performing career, Bova served as the Skating Director at ice rinks in Oak Park, Park Ridge, Glenview, and Wilmette. She spent more than 20 years at Wilmette's Centennial Park Ice Rink, growing its figure skating program into the fourth largest in the nation. During her career she was a member of the Ice Skating Institute of America (ISI) and was elected to the Executive Committee of its Board of Directors. She was honored as the ISI Woman of the Year in 1980, and received the inaugural President’s Award for Excellence in 1995. She was the 1998 inductee to the ISI Hall of Fame, where she was later joined by Olympic Gold Medalists Scott Hamilton (2002) and Kristi Yamaguchi (2013).
Dodie is survived by her children, Steve and Dawn, and four grandchildren: Stephanie, Michael, Brooke and Lauren.
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