Posted on 10/19/2018
Captain Robert W. Hoag II, USN Ret., 79, of Silverdale, WA. passed into the hands of the Lord last week after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease.
Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, he was the son of Leslie F. Hoag of Rutland, VT and Harriet H. Witman of Harrisburg, PA.
With war in full swing in Europe the family returned to the US in June 1940. Bob mainly lived in Phoenix, AZ where he attended North Phoenix High School. He was very active in ROTC, boy scouts and youth activities at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral. In 1957 he was appointed to the US Naval Academy, graduating with the class of 1961, to the delight of his Father who graduated with the class of 1925!
Right after graduation he married his sweetheart Caroline Henniger from The Hague, the Netherlands, having met her in 1958 while visiting that country on a summer training cruise aboard the USS Intrepid CVA 11.
Captain Hoag had a deep affection for the Navy. He served his country from 1961-1991. He was awarded the Legion of Merit and a number of other Defense medals. His first 7 years in the fleet were in anti-submarine warfare and weapons on three destroyers. From 1968-1970 he attended the Naval Post Graduate School, Monterey, CA and earned his degree in Oceanography. Re-designated as Engineering Duty Officer, he served at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, N.H., worked within the Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington D.C. and the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, WA. In 1985 assumed command of Naval Undersea Warfare Center, Division Keyport which he considered the highlight of his career. 1989 he took command of the Trident Command and Control Systems Maintenance Activity, Newport, RI.
He was preceded in death by his parents and older sister Harriet Haskell and is survived by his younger sister Francis of Scottsdale, Az., his loving wife of 57 years, Caroline, daughters Kim Hess (Don), Deb Taylor (Kyle), Elizabeth Behrens (Dean) and Catherine Terrell (Mark) and six grandchildren Casey and Colleen Hess, Kirby and Craig Taylor, Jacob and Jesse Behrens, nephew Chris, nieces Cindi and Suzie and their families.
In retirement in the Pacific NW he worked for 8 years for ARL Penn State University, followed by many busy and rewarding years as a Blue and Gold Officer for the Naval Academy, coaching promising high school students in applying to the Academy. The beauty of nature inspired him. As an avid photographer, he saw a lot of it through the lens of his camera, putting much effort into getting just the right shot. He was a joyful person. Music played a big role in his life. He loved to hike, mountain climb, scuba dive and play golf. He and Caroline traveled extensively, especially abroad. They enjoyed road trips with their camper seeing much of the western United States. He was always busy working outside, growing more vegetables than we could eat! He had more fun using his many wood working tools and lending a hand in the construction of the Hoag dream house, with a great view of the Olympic Mountains. He volunteered at the Kitsap Humane Society and St. Antony's Episcopal Church. He appreciated the love and support he received from many when in 2012 when he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. His faith in the goodness of God sustained him throughout his life. Instead of flowers, please consider making a donation to St. Antony's Episcopal Church, PO Box 2822, Silverdale, WA 98383, the Naval Undersea Museum, PO Box 408, Keyport, WA 98345 or the Cure Alzheimer's Fund, 34 Washington St, Suite 200, Wellesley Hill, MA 02481.
A service of remembrance will be held on Saturday, November 10 @ 2PM at Silverdale Lutheran Church, 11701 Ridgepoint DR NW, Silverdale, WA 98383.
Published in Kitsap Sun on Oct. 19, 2018