Robert T. "Bobby O" Ovanes

Robert T. Ovanes, 80, of Jupiter, FL and Cape Cod, passed away peacefully on Monday, October 16, 2023 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s. He was surrounded by his family.   Although we are devastated, we take great solace knowing he will no longer suffer from this affliction.   While Bobby O. may be gone, he will never be forgotten.

Robert is survived by his wife of 55 years, Barbara A. (Fill) Ovanes.  He leaves his daughter, Tabitha A. Karch and her husband, Eric and his grandchildren Amanda and Ryan.  He also leaves behind his son, Matthew T. Ovanes and his wife Stacey and his granddaughter, Hayden Grace. Additionally, he is survived by his two sisters, Barbara Baba and Marilyn DiGioia, his in-laws, numerous nieces and nephews and many, many friends.  He was predeceased by his parents, George S. and Annie (Ohan) Ovanes.

Robert was born in Worcester on December 22, 1942, and graduated high school there before attending UMass Amherst for a degree in Business and Economics.  While there, he met Barbara, who became his partner both in business and in life.  He always possessed an entrepreneurial mind and a strong drive to succeed, with which he returned to Worcester to create many thriving business ventures.  He was most well-known for his two restaurants, Pippin’s and Tarragon’s.  

Though he was very successful in his businesses, he felt his biggest accomplishments were his two children and three grandchildren, who called him “Grampy”.   He was incredibly proud of their achievements.  They loved him with all their hearts.

To know Bobby is to love Bobby.  He had an enormous personality and was an incredibly social person.  He was arguably one of the most well-known residents of Worcester during his 50+ years there.  While his charisma and sense of humor stood out, deep down he was truly a sentimental person.  He maintained strong friendships and relationships from every part of his life, all of whom will miss him dearly.  

Food was a large part of his life- not just as a restauranteur, but because of his Assyrian heritage.   Family gatherings  revolved around an over-abundance of food.  Though he often bragged about his wife’s cooking skills, he was the self-proclaimed grill master, pizza maker and official turkey carver on Thanksgiving, which was his favorite holiday.  

Bobby loved and was very proud of his beautiful backyard in Florida, which he designed and built with his wife.  He spent endless hours there entertaining friends, sitting by the fire pit at night and enjoying the Koi pond.  The yard was like no other, and even had a “money tree” that, when shaken for his grandchildren, coins would “magically” fall from the leaves.  

A social butterfly, he was happiest when with family and friends. Time was filled with marathon games of gin, backgammon, mini golf, dinner dates, and hosting long-time friends in Florida.  He was even known to occasionally try his hand at the blackjack table.  He also loved traveling to the islands and Europe.  The final and most memorable trip he took was with his entire family to Europe for the Christmas markets and New Years Eve in Iceland, where fireworks lit up the entire sky in all directions.  Perhaps that is why he was so happy the week before he passed, as we watched fireworks over Sea Gull Beach.   This is how we will remember Bobby O.

We would like to thank all of the caregivers at Cape Cod Hospital for providing such outstanding and loving care during his final days.

In lieu of flowers, we have selected two establishments should you choose to make a donation in Bobby’s name:  Cape Cod Hospital in Hyannis or St. Mary’s Syriac Orthodox Church in Shrewsbury.

Services will be private.  A celebration of life will be held next summer.

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