Bob was born in Indianapolis, the son of Mary Frances Orendorf and Walter Hoy. He attended school in Dayton, Ohio, and was a graduate of the University of Dayton. He did graduate work in theology at the University of Fribourg in Switzerland and completed his master’s degree at St. Louis University. He and his wife, Mary Ann Collins Hoy, were married in 1969 and moved to Maine in 1977.
Bob taught high school English for 54 years in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Maine. He retired from Brunswick High School in 2000. He considered teaching a vocation and loved almost every minute of time spent with students. He joined the Brunswick faculty in 1980 and served as the speech and debate coach until retiring. Speech and debate was a passion of Bob’s and he took real pleasure in the accomplishment of his students, who competed on the national level every year he coached. He was recognized by the National Forensic League as a double diamond coach and was chosen Debate Coach of the Year by his peers in the Maine Forensic League.
Bob was a member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Brunswick and was active in diocesan life for many years as a member of the Committee on Holy Orders and as a discernment group facilitator. He was particularly interested in group spiritual direction, studied at the Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation in Washington, D.C., and helped establish several groups in Maine.
Bob took up painting after retirement and enjoyed Chinese brush painting and watercolor. He always had two or three books on his nightstand, a couple more in the car, and one in hand at every medical appointment. He was rarely seen without a bowtie, carefully selected for the occasion. He loved to fish with Justin and to watch “Doctor Who” reruns with Colin and took special joy in his granddaughters, eagerly awaiting their visits.
Bob is survived by his wife, the Rev. Mary Ann Hoy, his son, Justin Hoy and wife Sara of Essex Junction, VT., and two granddaughters, Payton and Addison. His son Colin died in 2007.
A service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, August 3, at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Brunswick.
If desired, memorial donations may be sent to the Freeport Community Library, 10 Library Drive, Freeport, ME 04032.
To offer words of condolence and share memories with the family, please go to www.athutchins.com.
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