Richard Malcolm Hobart

Richard Malcolm Hobart went home for the holidays to be with his “Dolly” Patricia Eleanore Parker Hobart on November 21, 2024.

He traveled from his sleep and died peacefully as his bride of 63 years brought him home to be with his family and cherished friends once again at Christmas. They met in junior high school accompanying the choirs in Royal Oak, Michigan.

They needed an accomplished organist in Heaven this Christmas; he leaves a legacy of three children; Rick (Linda) Hobart, Gretchen Hobart (Paul) Barnes and Ruthie Hobart (Mike Cosmo); five grandchildren, Becky Hobart (Dustin) Kofstad, Sarah Barnes (Marc) Schulman, Erica Hobart (Kevin) Steiret, Ricky (Jessica) Barnes and Jacob Tyler Cosmo; eight great-grandchildren; Hayden, Haley, Elle, Emma, Kylie, Carter, Taliah and Noa Schulman. He also leaves his great grand dog, Louis Vuitton Hobart Cosmo, a registered therapy dog.

After receiving his Master’s Degree in Music from the University of Michigan in 1948, he married Patty, celebrated his birthday two days later and started his career at Luther College in Decora, Iowa teaching organ and piano.

Patty and Dick then moved to Chagrin Falls, Ohio where he began a career at Wyeth Laboratories, becoming the credit manager for 36 years, until the company was acquired by Pfizer Pharmaceuticals. He also served as the organist of The Church of The Savior United Methodist in Cleveland Heights for 33 years.

After retirement, they moved to Torch Lake, Kewadin, Michigan and lived there from 1989 until 2010. While in Michigan, he served as organist at The Christian Science Church in Traverse City, for 15 years. In 2013, after losing his wife of 63 years, he moved to San Clemente, California where he resided at the Villas by the Sea.

While at the Villas, he was in charge of the employee Christmas fund, worked at the Villas store for the residents and enjoyed swimming and worked out on a rowing machine each day up until his death. He enjoyed playing BINGO, blackjack and watching movies. He was also a member of The Saint Andrew’s by The Sea United Methodist Church in San Clemente, California.

There will be many celebrations around the country in honor of Patty and Dick being together again. Please join us at The Steele Mansion, 348 Mentor Avenue, Painesville, Ohio, on Friday, December 27, 2024 from 1-4 PM. Additional celebrations will be held at The Church of the Savior at a later date; in Chagrin Falls during blossom time in 2025; in Clear Lake, Indiana and Elk Rapids, Michigan during Harbor Days in August, 2025.

There will also be celebrations in Vernonia, Oregon and San Clemente, California at dates to be planned.

The family encourages donations be made to The Church of the Savior United Methodist, Saint Andrews by The Sea United Methodist Church, The Christian Science Church of Traverse City, Michigan, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, The American Cancer Society, The American Heart Association or a local animal shelter. Please designate your selected charity on the memo line and mail to the family in care of Davis-Babcock Funeral Home, PO Box 1264, Willoughby, OH 44096-1264.