Andrew Hoover

Andrew "Andy" Hoover, 85, passed away at home in Denver, Colorado, on July 16, 2026, surrounded by his loved ones.

Born on November 9, 1940, in Palo Alto, California, Andy lived a life defined by curiosity, discipline, and craftsmanship. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, Army veteran, engineer of mines, accomplished woodworker, marksman, fisherman, and lifelong student of technology who eagerly embraced everything from early personal computers to teaching himself computer programming.

Andy was born to Allan Hoover and Margaret Coberly Hoover and was the grandson of President Herbert Hoover and First Lady Lou Henry Hoover. He grew up alongside his older brother, Allan Hoover Jr., and younger sister, Lou Henry Hoover. Childhood memories with his grandparents and summers spent sailing with cousins in Southern California left lasting impressions. He often recounted stories from a summer spent in New York City with his grandfather, President Hoover, an experience that shaped his lifelong appreciation for history, engineering, and public service.

Andy graduated from The Lawrenceville School in 1959 before earning a Bachelor of Arts with distinction in architecture from Yale University in 1963. After graduation, he enlisted in the United States Army and served for two years before enrolling at the Colorado School of Mines. He graduated in 1969 and was elected to Tau Beta Pi, the nation's oldest engineering honor society recognizing scholarship, integrity, and exemplary character.

Following graduation, Andy pursued a distinguished career as an engineer of mines. His work took him from Idorado Mine in Ouray, Colorado, to the Warm Springs Talc Mine on the west side of Death Valley, California, and Atlanta Gold Mine in eastern Nevada near Pioche, before taking a position with John T. Boyd Company, a renowned Mining Engineering firm in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Throughout his life, he remained deeply proud of his profession and of his election to Tau Beta Pi.

Andy served on the boards of the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum, the Herbert Hoover Presidential Foundation and the Board of Overseers at the Hoover Institution. He also devoted countless hours to preserving the legacy and values of his grandfather while quietly serving his local community, including helping restore the historic one-room schoolhouse on Kuehster Road and contributing to neighborhood and civic projects.

Family was the center of Andy's life. He is survived by his beloved wife of 50 years, Jeanie, his children Margaret Hoover (John Avlon) and Alexander (Margaret) Hoover and his grandchildren McKenna "Ollie" Hoover, Sophie Lou Hoover, John Andrew Hoover Avlon and Toula Lou Hoover Avlon. He was preceded in death by his parents, Allan Hoover and Margaret Coberly Hoover and his siblings, Allan Hoover Jr. and Lou Henry Hoover.

Away from work, Andy found joy in woodworking, jewelry making, fishing, camping, hunting, skeet shooting, and spending time in the Colorado mountains. His workshop occupied nearly half their mountain home which he designed and helped build. He loved telling stories—of childhood adventures, life in the mines, working on New York skyscrapers, fishing with his grandfather, motorcycles in the Nevada desert, and adventures that seemed almost too remarkable to be true. He met every challenge with determination, an engineer's mind, and a memorable command of colorful language. His booming laugh, unmistakable whistle, and twinkle in his eye will be remembered by all who knew him.

Andy believed that achievement came through hard work, discipline, curiosity, and perseverance. He encouraged those around him to tackle difficult problems, learn new skills, and leave things better than they found them. His example lives on in his family, his friends, and the many people whose lives he quietly shaped.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Hoover Presidential Foundation Timeless Values Campaign for the 2026 Museum Renovation at https://timelessvaluescampaign.org/