Stephen C. Hook

Stephen C. Hook, age 82, of Etna Township, Ohio, died on February 10, 2026, after a long illness. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Rebecca (Struve) Hook; children, Tracy Holstein (David), of Pickerington, Ohio and Jason Hook (Kathleen Rohm), of Medford, New Jersey; six grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his father, Edward Burgess Hook; his mother, Bernadine Schunk Hook; three beloved aunts, Helen, Magdelene and Mary; his father-in-law, Irvin Struve; and mother-in-law, Mildred Struve.

Stephen was born in New York City and resided in Celina, Ohio with his uncle and aunt, Robert and Mary Brady, and cousin, R. Michael Brady, before returning to New York City and living with his mother and Aunt Magdelene. He graduated from high school in New York, earned his degree from the University of Notre Dame, and later earned two graduate degrees from the University of Iowa. His careers included college professorship, broadcasting, newspapers, public relations and advertising, and authorship of numerous articles and a book. He retired after a decade working in logistics.

Stephen served in the U.S. Army Medical Service and the Corps of Engineers during the Vietnam War, attaining the rank of captain.

Stephen was deeply grateful to all the medical personnel, relatives, and friends who supported him during his final illness. He would also like to express his appreciation to Gary Jeff Walker of WLW in Cincinnati for giving him airtime on Saturday mornings.

Memorial visitation will be from 1-2 p.m. on Sunday February 22, 2026 at KAUBER-FRALEY FUNERAL HOME, 289 S. Main St., Pataskala, OH 43062. Memorial service will follow at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday at the funeral home with Pastor Kevin Kellogg officiating.

In lieu of flowers, Stephen asked that donations be made to the University of Cincinnati Foundation in support of the Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund, P.O. Box 19970, Cincinnati, OH 45219-9970 or visit https://foundation.uc.edu/pancreaticcancer