1924
William
2022
William Stephen Hopkins
June 30, 1924 — July 12, 2022
William Hopkins Obituary
At an early morning hour twelve days after his 98th birthday, William Stephen Hopkins drew his last breath. He was born in Troy, NY, the only son of the late William Shattuck Hopkins and Etta Eugenia (Patton) Hopkins, and it was there he received his childhood education. Following high school graduation, he joined the Coast Guard and served on the Homefront in the war that defined his generation. He used the GI bill to become one of the first four men to graduate from Russell Sage College (B.A. Sociology). His academic career then took him to Oneonta State Teachers College (M.S. Elementary Education). He taught for five years, first on Long Island and then back in his hometown. His next degree, from Syracuse University (M.S. Library Science), was his last, but would launch a thirty-five-year career, working first on a bookmobile for the New Hampshire State Library and the Southern Adirondack Library System, then as a reference librarian in a number of colleges.
Music was the joy of Bill`s life and he came of age in the era of the Big Bands. He learned to play the trombone as a boy and a highlight of being stationed in NYC during the war was the night he played with Les Brown`s Band of Renown, replacing a trombonist who had fallen ill. He also had a deep appreciation for classical and choral music and throughout his life he joined his beautiful tenor voice with others in the choirs of Episcopal churches he attended. Spare time was devoted to a lifelong fascination with the wonders of electricity and a practical talent at woodworking.
He is survived by his daughters Johanna Wolfe and her husband Roger, of Eastford, CT, Jean Schmick and her husband Robert, of Bangor, ME, and Rebecca Hopkins of Blue Hill, ME. Each daughter gave him two grandchildren and they are Christian Wolfe (wife Sarah) of Woodstock, CT and Meryl Wolfe of Eastford, CT, Gabe and Genevieve Schmick, of Bangor, ME and 2nd Lt Alex Severnyak, USMC, of Frederick, MD and Cpl. Maxim Severnyak, USMC, (wife April) of Richlands, NC. He was predeceased in 2008 by his wife of 47 years, Margery (Stroud) Hopkins and by his older sister Edith (Hopkins) Tarbet.
A graveside service for William will be held Saturday, October 22, 2022 at 11:00 am at the Mayflower Cemetery in Duxbury, MA. In lieu of flowers, a memorial donation may be made to the Muscular Dystrophy Association. For an online memorial guestbook, please visit www.potterfuneralhome.com
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to the family or plant a tree
in memory of William Stephen Hopkins, please visit our floral store.
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At an early morning hour twelve days after his 98th birthday, William Stephen Hopkins drew his last breath. He was born in Troy, NY, the only son of the late William Shattuck Hopkins and Etta Eugenia (Patton) Hopkins, and it was there he received his childhood education. Following high school graduation, he joined the Coast Guard and served on the Homefront in the war that defined his generation. He used the GI bill to become one of the first four men to graduate from Russell Sage College (B.A. Sociology). His academic career then took him to Oneonta State Teachers College (M.S. Elementary Education). He taught for five years, first on Long Island and then back in his hometown. His next degree, from Syracuse University (M.S. Library Science), was his last, but would launch a thirty-five-year career, working first on a bookmobile for the New Hampshire State Library and the Southern Adirondack Library System, then as a reference librarian in a number of colleges.
Music was the joy of Bill`s life and he came of age in the era of the Big Bands. He learned to play the trombone as a boy and a highlight of being stationed in NYC during the war was the night he played with Les Brown`s Band of Renown, replacing a trombonist who had fallen ill. He also had a deep appreciation for classical and choral music and throughout his life he joined his beautiful tenor voice with others in the choirs of Episcopal churches he attended. Spare time was devoted to a lifelong fascination with the wonders of electricity and a practical talent at woodworking.
He is survived by his daughters Johanna Wolfe and her husband Roger, of Eastford, CT, Jean Schmick and her husband Robert, of Bangor, ME, and Rebecca Hopkins of Blue Hill, ME. Each daughter gave him two grandchildren and they are Christian Wolfe (wife Sarah) of Woodstock, CT and Meryl Wolfe of Eastford, CT, Gabe and Genevieve Schmick, of Bangor, ME and 2nd Lt Alex Severnyak, USMC, of Frederick, MD and Cpl. Maxim Severnyak, USMC, (wife April) of Richlands, NC. He was predeceased in 2008 by his wife of 47 years, Margery (Stroud) Hopkins and by his older sister Edith (Hopkins) Tarbet.
A graveside service for William will be held Saturday, October 22, 2022 at 11:00 am at the Mayflower Cemetery in Duxbury, MA. In lieu of flowers, a memorial donation may be made to the Muscular Dystrophy Association. For an online memorial guestbook, please visit www.potterfuneralhome.com
To send flowers
to the family or plant a tree
in memory of William Stephen Hopkins, please visit our floral store.
Read More
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of William Stephen Hopkins, please visit our flower store.
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