Gary Duane Hoppe

Gary Hoppe, beloved husband, father and brother, dedicated advocate and esteemed member of the New York City legal community and Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, passed away peacefully on Saturday, July 11, 2026.

Born June 18th, 1952, in Rochester, NY to Earl and Laura Hoppe, the third of three boys and little brother to Richard and Dennis, Gary was a man of immense humor, intellect, integrity, and warmth. He pursued his education - after graduating as the valedictorian at Franklin High School, he went on to graduate summa cum laude with a Bachelors degree from the State University of New York - Oswego in 1974.

His connection to his alma mater remained strong throughout his life - initially serving as the chairman of the SUNY Oswego Alumni Association and later on the Board of Directors for The Fund for Oswego, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars. In 2001, he was honored by the University with the prestigious Distinguished Alumnus Award.

Gary went on to earn his Juris Doctor with honors from Harvard Law School in 1977, launching a highly respected legal career spanning decades. As an attorney admitted to practice across multiple courts, Gary was widely recognized by his peers for his legal acumen.

He spent a significant portion of his career as a partner at Olwine, Connelly, Chase, O'Donnell & Weyher and later at Twomey, Hoppe and Gallanty in New York City, specializing in commercial litigation, appeals and corporate matters. He also lent his time to pro bono criminal cases. Among his most cherished professional milestones was his time spent serving as the first clerk to the Chief Judge on the New York Court of Appeals, the late Chief Judge Judith S. Kaye. This experience deeply shaped his lifelong commitment to the rule of law.

While his professional achievements were vast, Gary’s true legacy lies in the love he had for his family and the quiet moments he shared with those closest to him. He was always present for his family - traveling thousands of miles for hockey games, swim meets and cross country races. He was a long time resident of Rochester, Manhattan, and Stroudsburg, PA, where he enjoyed reading historical novels, playing sodoku, beating family members at games (monopoly and canasta, his favorite), enjoying seasonal fruits, especially cherries and watermelon, trying new recipes and caring for his dogs.

He is predeceased by his father Earl, mother Laura, brother Dennis and dogs Hunny and Lola. He is survived by his loving family, including his wife of 40 years, Frances Woo, children William (daughter-in-law, Lauren), Charles (daughter-in-law Kristen) and Tina (son-in-law, Drew), brother Richard, grandson Earl, Asta the dog, nephews Jason and Justin, extended Woo family members of Seattle, WA, and a community of friends and colleagues who will deeply miss his wisdom, gentle humor, and steady presence.

If you would like to remember Gary, please consider making a gift in his memory to The Fund for Oswego at https://alumni.oswego.edu/thefundforoswego or the ASPCA at https://www.aspca.org/. A private celebration of Gary’s life and legacy will be held by the family at a later date.