Pierce F. Hoban

Pierce “Pete” Hoban

1930-2023

 Dr. Pierce Francis Hoban, Educator, age 93. Resided in Vicar’s Landing in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. Blessed with a wonderful quality of life to his last day on Sunday, August 13, 2023, when the Doctors at Mayo Hospital in Jacksonville, FL said “his heart just gave out”.   

 Pete was truly a self-made man. Born into a loving, but humble family in New York City during the Depression on June 19, 1930. Served proudly after High School in the United States Coast Guard during the Korean War. He always said, if not for the benefits he received for his military service as part of the GI Bill he never would have been able to earn his undergraduate degree from Fordham University, his Masters’ Degree from New York University, or his Doctorate Degree in Education from Columbia University.

 Working as a High School Math Teacher while earning his Doctorate Degree his talents and people skills were quickly recognized as he moved up the ranks of education becoming a Superintendent of Schools at the age of 30. He spent the next 35 years serving as Superintendent of Schools in increasingly larger, and more complex School Systems including The Three Village District on Long Island and the Skokie School District in the suburbs of Chicago. He was driven in his career by his deep passion for helping others succeed by achieving their educational goals. In this regard he was lucky enough to have touched and impacted in a positive way too many students, teachers, and other support staff to count.   

 Although Pete loved helping others, by far the most important thing is his life was his family. Married to Mary Connolly on June 19, 1956, in Corona, New York. They raised 4 boys, Tim, Mike, Pete, and Bill. To no surprise the values he instilled with his sons allowed them to achieve successful careers after earning college and post graduate degrees. During their 64-year marriage their home was always a bee hive of activity between family, friends and sporting events. During those early years raising his family Pete loved traveling on family vacations in their Winnebago.  Whether traveling to National Parks across the Country, going on skiing or golfing vacations he always viewed these trips as some of the best times of his life.     

 After retiring in 1994, Pete and his wife Mary started a new chapter in their lives moving from the Chicago area to Ponte Vedra Beach Fl. An avid golfer, and member of the Sawgrass Country Club he spent decade’s trying to perfect his golf swing. Always with his self-deprecating humor he would quip he did a much better job at helping others as Superintendent of Schools than he ever did trying perfect his golf swing. (Thankfully :) Pete loved retirement and all the friends they made along the way.  He and Mary kept active and traveled extensively to Europe and throughout the United States. They moved to Vickers Landing in 2014 and were regulars at Dinner Theatres and other activities. He was not shy about showing off his acting skills in plays, and even winning a bocce ball tournament.

 The COVID 19 pandemic was hard on everyone, including Pete. In June of 2020 he lost the love of his life Mary to cancer. Her loss was particularly hard as he was reduced to visiting her at Vickers Skilled Nursing Facility by looking in her outside window and calling her on the phone due to strict COVID rules. Despite losing Mary he never lost his zest for life. Instead, he adopted the motto “keep active and enjoy life”.  To that end, after COVID 19 restrictions lifted he traveled with his sons on numerous adventures including trips to South Korea to visit his grandson serving in the US Army (he even peeked into N. Korea along the DMZ) boat rides in Los Angeles, Christmas in Lake Tahoe (with too much snow), New York City sightseeing trips, driving 5 days along the Pacific Coast Highway from Los Angeles to Seattle,  a train ride from Chicago to San Francisco through the Rocky Mountains, and even a hot air balloon ride. In the last 2 months of his life, he especially enjoyed his 93rd Birthday Bash on Long Island with 70+ relatives and friends attending as well as a 7-day Caribbean Cruise. Lastly, he was scheduled to go with his sons on a trip to Switzerland in September but unfortunately God had other plans for him. 

 A life well lived.  Pete is Survived by his sons, Tim, Mike, Pete, and Bill; and six grandchildren.  

 Funeral services are scheduled for 11 am on Friday September 1^st at Our Lady Star of the Seas Catholic Church in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. A Military Honor Guard Ceremony will take place immediately following the Funeral Service outside the Columbarium followed by Interment. A reception will be held at 1:00 pm in the Parlor Room at Vickers Landing. All are welcome at the Reception.

 In lieu of flowers please consider giving to the “Andrew Connolly SJ Scholarship Fund” which provides educational scholarships to needy students at Xavier High School in Truk, Micronesia. (located in the South Pacific by Guam where Mary’s brother served for 40+ years as a Jesuit Priest) Donations can be made via their website https://sjnen.org/donate-now-xavier-high-school-chuuk

Indicate in comments section of website your donation is for the “Andrew Connolly Scholarship Fund”. 

 Donations can also be made by mail by sending a check to: 

 USA East Province of the Society of Jesuits 

39 East 83^rd St.

New York, NY 10028   (make check out to: “USA East Province” and in memo section indicate for “Andrew Connolly Scholarship fund at Xavier HS in Micronesia”)