Willis Showers Hoch

born 16 April 1930 of John Raymond Hoch and Anna Hickman Hoch in Wilmington Delaware, passed away in the comfort of family on 21 December 2021 in Paoli, PA.

Dr. Hoch was an extremely accomplished physician, academic pathologist, businessman, and loving patriarch. He self-described his life in medicine as “A Pathologist’s Odyssey: from Iron Lung to the Plains of the Serengeti”, which references his inspiration from surviving Polio at age 14 to serve others as a physician, including the People of Kenya on medical missions in retirement. Willis graduated from P. S. DuPont High School in 1948. He graduated Cum Laude with a B.A. Biology from University of Delaware in 1952, where he was a member of the Delta Tau Delta Fraternity, U.S. Army ROTC, and Blue Hen Soccer. His medical training began at Temple University School of Medicine, where he graduated with research distinctions in 1956. After completing his pathology residency at Temple in 1961, he served as Chief of Pathology and Captain, 3rd U.S. Army Medical Laboratory, Fort McPherson, GA (1961-1963). He was also an Assistant Professor of Pathology at Emory University School of Medicine until 1965. He was Chief of Pathology, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Community General Hospital in Reading, PA (1965-1997), and Associate Professor of Pathology at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital (1970-1989). He was founder, owner, and medical director of Acutech Medical Labs, Inc., which served medical diagnostic testing needs at state and private facilities across PA, including the first statewide Neonatal Metabolic Screening Program in Pennsylvania (1973-1995). Dr. Hoch also volunteered his time and professional expertise to facilitate medical improvements for the Lakota people in South Dakota, assisted in the establishment of University of Tromso Medical School in Norway, analyzed skeletal remains for the University of Pennsylvania Museum Physical Anthropology Section, and served as pathologist on mission trips to Kenya.

Dr. Hoch is survived by his second wife of 11 years, Daryl Perkins Black Hoch. He is preceded in death by his wife of 53 years, Lucy Lashar Hoch (died 2009) and survived by their six children: John Raymond Hoch II, M.D. and wife Valerie of Madison, WI; Sara Hoch Phelan and husband Michael of West Chester, PA; Thomas Andrew Hoch and wife Kathleen of Boxborough, MA; Matthew Paul Hoch, Ph.D. and wife Marie of Beaumont, TX; Daniel James Hoch and wife Juliana of Reading, PA; and Benjamin Lashar Hoch, M.D. and wife Michelle of Des Moines, IA. Dr. Hoch is also survived by his eleven grandchildren (Benjamin, Rachel, Collin, Laura, Amanda, Anna, Connor, Tara, Amelia, Gracie, and Maverick), and two great grandchildren (Willow and Josephine). In Dr. Hoch’s purpose driven life, he made time to nurture each of his children’s interests, many of which he shared. A focal point of his family was his South Bethany Beach, DE, beach house where for 56 years wonderful memories were made. His extensive list of passions included the violin, music (classical, opera, jazz), magic, visual and performing arts, New York City, gardening, outdoor activities (backpacking, skiing, fishing, crabbing, clamming), and global travel to archeological sites and Nature’s wonders. He reminds his family and friends of the Kenyan proverb, “You must treat the Earth well. It was not given to you by your parents. It was lent to you by your children.” Since 1970, Dr. Hoch was a committed parishioner of The Church of the Good Samaritan, Paoli, PA, where a memorial service will be held in the Spring 2022.

Please send email to [email protected] to receive memorial service details when available.