St. Helena was a special place to Hoppe

There are times life can be humbling. The community of St. Helena, CA,
discovered that feeling recently as it lost another part of its past on June,
10, 2019. 

Richard Joseph Hoppe died peacefully in his home after a brief illness.
The Hoppe family has established a storied legacy on many fronts in the
community. Most recently, Richard Hoppe, who graduated in 2013, was
a three-sport star at St. Helena High who went on to play baseball at Boise
State University. Tom Hoppe, who is the son of the elder Richard Hoppe
and father of the younger Richard Hoppe, was a two-sport athlete at St.
Helena. He graduated in 1977 and has been the school’s athletic director
since 1998. 

The elder Richard Hoppe was born in New Jersey in 1933, Richard and his
first wife, Birdy, moved to St. Helena in 1967. Hoppe served in the navy
during the Korean War. He later worked at Mare Island Naval Shipyard
until his retirement. He had a passion for all athletics and hunted with his
son and family friends. 

Hoppe is survived by his wife of fifteen years, Laurie Jensen Hoppe; son
Tom and daughter-in-law, Julie Hoppe; son-in-law, Stash Faria; grandchildren
Hillary Hoppe, Richard Hoppe, Kyle Faria, Cara Faria Moore (Geoffrey);
sisters Cookie Carter (Freddie) and Gail Hayes; Laurie’s two daughters and
their families. He was preceded in death by his first wife of 44 years, Roberta
Rasler Hoppe and by his daughter, Denise Hoppe Faria. A private interment
with military honors was held at the St. Helena Cemetery.

There will be a Celebration of Life at the St. Helena American Legion Hall
at 1291 Madrona Avenue on Sunday, July 14 from 1:30 to 4 p.m.

Donations in Richard’s memory may be made to the Saint Helena High
School Athletic Department at 1401 Grayson, St. Helena, CA 94574.

I mainly knew Hoppe on the periphery in my 10 years as a sports reporter
in the communities of St. Helena and Calistoga (2004-2014). In that
environment, however, when you know someone on that level, you feel
like you know then up close as well. 

Though I have changed careers, I often think about my days as a sports
reporter. Community journalism is not for everyone. Sometimes life can
feel claustrophobic but the people you meet and relationships you develop
make it special. Hoppe was one of the many people I met that contributed
to making my time special. 

My first impression of him though was less than pleasant. It was January
2004. I had just taken over as sports reporter for the St. Helena Star and
Weekly Calistogan. I was covering a St. Helena Saints boys basketball
game. Tom was the coach. I remember chatting during the JV game with
varsity assistant coach Mike Werle. I stood up to stretch and I hear this
voice about 8-10 rows in the bleachers: “Hey, reporter we missed you
at the last game.” I turned to Werle and ask: “Who the hell is that guy?”
Werle replied: “That’s Tom’s dad.” So I nodded my head. After the game,
I met the elder Richard Hoppe. That conversation and everyone we had
thereafter was nothing but pleasant. We would chop it up about anything
from sports to family to life. He always had a smile on his face. It was
hard to be in a bad mood around Mr. Hoppe. 

Because of my role as a sports reporter, I mainly saw him as the No. 1
fan of his grandkids, Richard and Hillary, along with the coaching
endeavors of his son, Tom. In general, that narrative describes most
parents and grandparents. Then you peel various other layers of his life.

For openers, he served, as I channel my inner Archie Bunker, “These
here U S of A Nation States, in this here Korean War.” All kidding aside,
veterans and soldiers currently serving our country are a special kind of
courageous. They have my undying respect. 

For about the last 18 years, Mr. Hoppe split his time between St. Helena and
Rathdrum, Idaho, which is in the state’s panhandle with a population of
about 5,000 people. Hoppe would spend the months of May through October
in Idaho and the remaining time in St. Helena. Since his grandchildren
(Richard and Hillary) were at Boise State, he was sort of nearby. 

New Jersey and Idaho were the arms and legs of Hoppe’s life but St. Helena
was the heart and soul. 

Though it may not be known to new generation St. Helenans, Hoppe’s
volunteerism spoke volumes. He served the following roles: St. Helena Little
League president, field maintenance for Crane Park, served on the St. Helena
Recreation Commission, St. Helena Little League coach, Carpy Gang football
and basketball coach and also coached baseball in Vallejo. He did all of this
while being a devoted Mare Island employee, father and husband. 

His volunteerism was not limited to sports. Hoppe took time to read to
elementary school classes, most notably to the fifth grade class of Carol
Shirmang at St. Helena Primary School. Anyone that volunteers time of any
sort is a good hearted person in my world.

One of the more misunderstood narratives is “you only live once.” Not true.
You die once but you live every day. Hoppe lived eight and a half decades
to the fullest. The sadness of his loss is immutable but if we can take a portion
of his life in terms of making a difference to others, we will all be better
people. 

Mr. Hoppe, I’m in no hurry to get to where you are going but I know we will
meet again someday. Enjoy that youth sporting event. You have earned your
luxury suite in the sky but if you prefer bleachers, they have those in the sky
too, my friend.