Hocker, Francis E.

Description

Francis Edward Hockey was born on October 10, 1914, in Watertown, New York, to Elizabeth Lynch, age 22, and Frank Elton Hockey, age 24. He received his early education at the Potsdam State Normal School, Potsdam, N.Y. and graduated from the New York State Teachers College, where he received his bachelor of science and master of science degrees between 1938 and 1942.

Francis started his teaching career in 1935, in a one-room schoolhouse in Oneida County, N.Y. He was teaching principal in the East Greenbush, N.Y. school system between 1938 and 1940 and Social Studies teacher at the East Greenbush Central School from 1940 to 1941. He also served as social studies teacher at Rye High School. Rye, N.Y., between 1942 and 1946

Francis left Rye High School to enlist. He would serve in the U.S. Army during World War II and Korea. From April 1942 to July 1946 he served with the Signal Corps Engineering Laboratory, Fort Monmouth, NJ and from March 1951 to August 1952 he served with the Office of the Chief Signal Officer. Pentagon, Washington, D.C. He held the rank of Lieutenant Colonel (Retired), U.S. Army Reserve.

He married Marie Ann Kilzen on October 10, 1944. They had two children during their marriage. Francis attended Columbia University in 1946. That year he moved to New Jersey becoming chairman of the social studies department at Rumson High School, before it became the Rumson Fair Haven • Regional High School.

From 1949 to 1955 Mr. Hockey served as principal at the Lafayette Street School in Rumson and took up his duties as superintendent in 1955. He continued his education and graduated from Rutgers University, New Brunswick as an education specialist in 1965.

From 1969 to 1970 he also served as lecturer at Monmouth College, Long Branch. He was a member of the Phi Delta Kappa Fraternity. He was also a member of the New Jersey Education Association: the American Association of School Administrators: and secretary of the Oceanic Free Library Association.

Francis E. Hockey, 56, superintendent of the Rumson School District since 1955, died September 8, 1971 at Monmouth Medical Center, Long Branch, New Jersey.

“We all knew him well and held him in the highest of esteem for his many years of service to the community. He will be sorely missed.” With these words, last night, Mayor John O. Teeter announced the death. “The news was a great shock to the whole board,” said William E. Frank, president of the Rumson Board of Education. “Mr. Hockey was a very dedicated educator and had his heart and soul in the Rumson school system. Expressing the feelings of the whole board, I can say that he will be sorely missed.”

At the time of his death, besides his widow, and parents, Francis was also survived by two sons, Kevin F. Hockey, on active duty with the U.S. Navy, and Justin L. Hockey, at home.