Dr. Donald Charles Hock

April 18, 1929 - November 21, 2015

Dr. Donald Charles Hock of Palm Island, FL, passed away Saturday, November 21, 2015 at the age of 86. Don is survived by his wife, Gloria Brown Hock, “Joy” to her friends, his daughters, Heidi and Gretchen, his older brother Allen, his younger sister, Helene, and his granddaughters Kaitlin, Laurel, and April. His youngest daughter, Paula, predeceases him. Don was born to parents Edna and Irving Hock on April 18, 1929 and grew up in Tonawanda, NY. In 1956, he received his doctorate in physics from Penn State University, and Don spent the majority of his career as a physicist for Lockheed Martin. Don met his wife, Joy, the love of his life for the past 58 years, on a blind date set up by his sister, Helene, on New Year’s Eve. In 1995, Don moved from Winter Park, FL to Palm Island, FL, where he continued to enjoy fishing, boating, tennis, and following Penn State Nittany Lions football. His dream retirement was to live on an island that had no bridge and he found just that on Palm Island. He loved living his life there, as many of those who knew him can attest. Don touched many lives, most notably, his nephew Dr. Stephen Kubow, who dedicated his own PhD thesis to Don. Don’s children recall their time in the kitchen when Don taught them how to cook, and his wife, Joy, remembers him as quite the partner in dance and in life. Don will be recalled as a family man who cherished the staff members and his friends in the Palm Island and the Winter Park communities. A memorial celebration of Don’s life will be announced at a later date. Memorial contributions are welcome and can be made to: Habitat for Humanity of Winter Park, FL Habitat for Humanity of Winter Park-Maitland, P.O. Box 1196 ,Winter Park, FL 32790, or at https://www.habitatwpm.org/ The Salvation Army, Orlando, FL: The Salvation Army, Orlando Area Command, P.O. Box 540657, Orlando, Florida 32854-0657 or at https://donate.salvationarmyusa.org/page.aspx?pid=207#tribute Tidewell Hospice, Port Charlotte, FL: Tidewell Hospice, 5955 Rand Blvd., Sarasota, FL 34238 or at www.givetotidewell.org. Arrangements by Englewood Community Funeral Home, Inc. With Private Crematory. You may send condolence’s to: www.englewoodfh.com