Hoban, John Patrick
John Hoban, age 84, of Winnetka, passed away peacefully at home on February 13, 2022. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Elspeth Maxwell Hoban, and his brothers, Ned & Charles Hoban. A loving father to James Maxwell (Barbara) Hoban, Anne Hoban (Jeffrey) Moore, and Michael Patrick Hoban; adoring grandfather to Maxwell & Finn Hoban and Charles & Kara Moore, caring uncle and great uncle to countless Coras and Hobans. The youngest son of Mary McCague Hoban & Charles Owen Hoban, John was born in 1937 in New Rochelle, New York. As a young boy John moved with his family to Glencoe, Illinois. From his first days in the neighborhood to his graduation from New Trier High School in 1955, John built strong and lasting friendships. His friends were drawn to his humor and kindness. An avid hockey player, he also had great success playing football and running track. A natural mechanic, he helped to build a car from scratch. A Lance Corporal in the US Marines, John earned the nickname “Hangtime Hoban” for quickly picking up a misfired live round and tossing it off the ship not just once, but twice. He graduated from Cornell in 1961 with a degree in Economics. John met the love of his life, Elspeth (Elsie), under the clock at the Biltmore Hotel in NYC in 1955 and they were wed in 1960. John worked first as a stockbroker for White, Weld & Co, later joining the brokerage firm of Kanne, Paris & Hoban. Later he moved to the banking side, selling retirement services for Harris Bank; finally helping to establish the investment management start-up ProManage. John loved telling stories! He shared stories of crazy adventures with his school mates, of fabled jazz performances, of the early days courting Elsie, and of the sometimes-harrowing backpacking trips with his wife and kids. The Hobans hosted amazing parties with delicious food, some sort of game, and always music playing. The biennial “Ribfest” in the backyard was legendary. A devotee of jazz, John supported the Chicago Jazz Institute
and his favorite local jazz radio station, WDCB. John played football & hockey at Cornell. He continued
as a hockey player well into his 50s , but he made his biggest mark in athletics as a coach for youth teams. He coached his own children in hockey, football & softball; but he did not stop there, coaching his nephews and continuing to coach when his own family members had aged up. It was hard to go somewhere with John on the Northshore without someone smiling and saying, “Hi Coach!”. John saw the best in other people, making everyone feel special. Who knows, maybe he did that so they would pull up a chair and listen to one of his stories. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Jazz Institute at jazzinchicago.org. Info: donnellanfuneral.
or (847)675-1990.