Richard Joseph Hopkins

Richard was born October 25, 1939 in Deposit, NY, to Alfred Schoonmaker and Agnes Murphy Schoonmaker of Hancock, NY. His mother died in a car accident when he was an infant and he was then adopted by his paternal aunt, Mildred Schoonmaker Hopkins and her husband, Rupert Hopkins, of McGraw, NY.

Richard graduated from McGraw High School in 1957, went on to University of Rochester for undergrad and then Emory University, earning a Doctorate in History. He taught at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee for one year before joining the History Department at the Ohio State University in 1969. At Ohio State he taught both American and Canadian History, retiring in 1996.

Richard married Louise VanInwagen in McGraw, NY in 1961. They had two children, Becky Hopkins McHolland (1965) and David Hopkins (1972) before divorcing in 1980. Richard was especially proud of his grandchildren, Kaitlyn McHolland (1995), Megan McHolland (1997), and David Clay Hopkins (1997).

Richard loved spending time at his cottage in Portland, Ontario, Canada, boating and fishing and enjoying happy hour with longtime friends and neighbors. He also enjoyed driving around the country in his conversion van until macular degeneration made it so he could no longer drive.

Richard is survived by his children, Becky (Kevin) McHolland and David Hopkins; grandchildren, Kaitlyn and Megan McHolland and David Clay Hopkins; brothers, Sonny (Barb) Schoonmaker, Bill Schoonmaker, and sister-in-law Bertha Schoonmaker. Special friends include Duane and Margaret Bradford and their daughter Sandra and son Steve from Ontario, his neighbors from his time living in Pass Christian, MS, former co-workers and faculty at Ohio State, and his “pub friends” from his time living in San Diego.

Since his eyesight was nearly gone Richard spent the day listening to NPR and music. Memorial donations in his memory may be directed to KJZZ, Phoenix’s public radio station, at fpraz.org or Friends of Public Radio Arizona (FPRAZ), at PO Box 62228, Phoenix, AZ 85082-2228.