Ernest "Ernie" J. Boch Sr. will be remembered from Cape Cod to Martha's Vineyard for his wacky commercials and giving nature.
The multimillionaire businessman and car salesman was known throughout New England for urging customers to "Come on down!" to one of his 18 dealerships and buy a car. These ads featured Boch shouting and smashing windshields to exhort his "smashing deals!" In 2000, Boch Enterprises grossed $847 million in revenues.
A well-known philanthropist, Boch donated money to local hospitals and gave away scholarships to high school students. He also contributed more than $3 million to the Boch Center for the Performing Arts, which will break ground in Mashpee, Mass., this year.
Boch died on Sunday from complications of liver cancer. He was 77.
Posted on July 16, 2003 2:36 PMHe was ONE!!"ROTTEN BASTARD"
Fired me AT WCOD IN HYANNIS
After Protecting a FELLOW Employee
SUSAN HASSET from Abuse!
My Life HAS BEEN RUINED!!!!!
Because of HIM!
I HOPE RIGHT NOW! HE IS "BARKING!
In HELL!
Joe Mc Millan
i love ernie boch JUNIOR!!!!!!!!!!11
Posted by ernie boch jr. on January 2, 2006 3:31 PMFirst off, Ernie Boch Sr. was a fair man for anyone who wanted to work hard. He never, ever wanted to lose to anyone (understandable...no winner ever wants to lose). Was he hard when he needed to be? Yes. Was he soft when he needed to be? Yes. I have nothing but respect for Ernie Sr and what he gave to me in all my affiliations through Toyota and Subaru. Although many didn't understand how he worked, I always appreciated the way he treated me. In closing, my thoughts will always be in favor of Ernie "winning!"
To Ernie Jr.: You're doing a great job! Your dad would be proud. It's not bad to love yourself!
Posted by Ray McGowan Sr on January 6, 2006 6:09 PMI loved Erenie for all he did for the Cape and Martha's Vineyard. I worked at his marina on the Vineyard and he was a fair man. "C'MON DOWN CHICO"
Posted by Isaac on July 20, 2006 7:11 PMErnie Boch was indeed a genius. A dedicated businessman and he gave freely. Anyone with something bad to say about him,is simply jealous. Rest in peace MY FRIEND!
Posted by Roger Parmenter on January 24, 2008 4:05 PMi REMEMBER THE SLOGAN
COME ON DOWN FOR A BAA BAA GOOD DEAL
Posted by V. SMITH on May 10, 2008 12:25 AMI WORKED FOR ERNIE AND HIS BROTHER RICHIE FOR MANY YEARS... I CAN TELL YOU THAT THEY WERE ALWWAYS FAIR TO ME.... IF YOU WORKED HARD...AND SMART.... YOU WOULD BE PAID WELL........... EVEN THOUGHT THIS SITE IS DEDICATED TO ERNIE... I MUST SAY... RICHIE (HIS YOUNGER BROTHER)... TAUGHT ME MORE THAN ANY ONE PERSON IN THE CAR BUSINESS... HE WAS A VERY FAIR BUSINESS MAN ...........
Posted by JIMMY LANE on June 13, 2008 1:50 PMWay back when, I used to go out with Junior (met him on a blind date set up by David Venditti, a car wholesaler). Great guy, who at the time, ran Boch Mitsu as the Sales Manager. He would ALWAYS get in trouble with his dad, Senior, for selling wholesale cars "on the arm." Senior would call looking for either the car or the money, and Junior (I used to call him "Ernest") would dodge his phone calls until, once again, Senior fired him. Senior stood tall and broad, like the Prudential building, always in a suit. You had to respect a guy like senior, since he started with little and with marketing strategies like "Come on Down!" (smash windshield) and the conception of the "Automile."