'A great foundation for Hampton': Former mayor remembered

Those who knew Jim Hovey said he set the "foundation" of the town as it stands today, according to his son.

The five-term former mayor and longtime businessman died on Tuesday last week at age 88, according to his obituary. Hovey's decades as a volunteer and public servant included three terms on council and five terms as mayor from 1989 to 1998, then again from 2001 until declining to reoffer in 2008.

"A lot of comments that were made is that he provided a great foundation for Hampton to grow and prosper," Jon Hovey said Monday. "I had that communicated a few times to me at the funeral home."

From Jim Hovey's first term on council in 1980 until the end 2008, Hampton's population increased by more than a quarter, which saw the community move from village to town in 1991.

Hovey continued to be involved in community organizations including the Hampton Rotary Club, the seniors resource centre and fundraising efforts for minor hockey and the community theatre, according to Brunswick News archives.

"He was always active, and his focus was always on the community and making it a better place," said Jon Hovey.

Jim Hovey was born in Saint John Feb. 15, 1936, to parents Malcolm and Violet, with brothers Philip and Bill. He went to Ryerson University, now Toronto Metropolitan University, in the 1950s for journalism, his son said.

On a trip back to Hampton he met his future wife, Joyce Hodder, at a dance in Nauwigewauk, and moved back "not long after to be with her," his son said, and they were married for 48 years.

"She was the love of his life," Jon Hovey said, and was "very social," keeping Jim up to date about the goings-on in town.

They had three children, including Jon as well as Jeff Hovey and Jennifer Legere, seven grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

Jon Hovey, now 52, said his father was a "great mentor" to him, introducing him to hunting and fishing as a boy and taking him on trips to the camp.

"He was a very supportive dad ... just always there for us, (he) would do anything for you," he said.

Jim Hovey began working in insurance in 1965, according to a company bio, and started Hovey Insurance in Hampton in the late 1980s, according to his obituary.

Jon Hovey, now the president, said before he first joined the office in the late 1990s, it was a two-person shop, and today it has 19 employees.

"He's just proud of how we've grown and developed over the years," he said, saying two weeks ago his father was "very excited" to see the photos of a recent renovation.

"He would always ask me, how's business?" Hovey said.

Hovey said that when his father would visit with his grandchildren it was the "greatest thing ever, really." He "took a keen interest" in their lives, and they would call him up to update him on school and sports, Hovey said.

Jon said he and Jim flew to Ottawa, where they stayed with his brother, in 2016 when their father was awarded by Gov. Gen. David Johnston with the Sovereign's Medal for volunteer service.

"It was amazing," Jon Hovey said. "That was a big day for Dad. He was one of the guys who just did stuff, and didn't expect any recognition."

After that, his father began to slow down physically and in terms of volunteering but was mentally "still sharp," Hovey said.

Jim Hovey was elected to council in 1980 and re-elected in 1983 and 1986, when he became deputy mayor. He was elected for three terms in 1989, 1992 and 1995, declined to run in the next election but came back in 2001 and ran again in 2004.

After Joyce Hovey died in 2007, Jim Hovey decided it was time to move on the next year and declined to run again.

At the time, he said he "really enjoyed" his time on council and would "certainly would recommend anyone to try it."

One of his recruits ended up being current mayor Bob Doucet, who called Hovey a "nice gentleman" who first approached him to run in 2008.

"He talked me into it, I had no idea what I was getting in to, and here we are in 2024 and I'm still here," said Doucet, who was elected mayor in 2021.

Doucet said Hovey did a "lot of good stuff in this town" in and out of the mayor's chair, adding that the town's civic service award is named after him.

"We realized how valuable he was to Hampton and what he did for Hampton over the years," Doucet said. "He's going to be dearly missed, he was a great guy."

A visitation was held on Saturday and son Jon Hovey said the response from the community has been "overwhelming."

"There were a lot of folks being so kind with stories they would have had with my dad, things he would have done for them to help them," he said. "Just a lot of positive comments, and it was really nice to hear."

One part of town which Jon Hovey said meant a lot to his father was the town square project, which was started while he was on council but not finished until he left.

"Seeing that completed, I think that was very meaningful and special to him," he said.

As a leader, Jon said his father was "very diplomatic," and would try to find ways to get people involved.

"He always looked to bring people together and try to come up with the best solution," he said. "He treated people very fairly and respected their opinions, but did have that leadership to make those tough decisions when he needed to."

A private funeral is planned for a later date.

- with files from Brunswick News archives

Andrew Bates, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Telegraph-Journal