Will in 2007

It takes a brave man to take on a new family at the age of 54. Will was such a man. He had raised 3 children with his wife Dolores Schreiber who died in 1977. In 1980 he was willing to marry Bev Bryan Wayne, a widow with 3 children – 10, 8 and 5 – and be a father to them. “I’ll be able to relive the best years of my life,” he reasoned.

Will was born in Brooklyn to Gus and Dolly Hoppe, graduated from Franklin K. Lane HS in 1943 and served in the 286th Engineer Combat Battalion during World War Two. He was in Paris on VE Day! Using the GI Bill, he graduated from NYU in 1948. He was employed by the Brooklyn Eagle and the Smithtown Messenger before moving to the New York Times in 1955 for a 36-year career. He was transferred to Miami in 1975 to be the SE Regional Advertising Manager, a position he filled until his retirement in 1990.

Besides Bev, he is survived by his children Ellen Hoppe Shakespeare Karl (Terry); Glenda Hoppe; Randolph Hoppe (Lisa); Steven Wayne (Lisa); Wendy Jill Wayne Shorter (Gary) and Patrick Wayne; his sister Claire Kranz; brother-in-law Vince Bryan (Donna); grandchildren Laura Shakespeare, Craig Shakespeare, Jacob Wayne, Abigail Shorter, Ryley Wayne, Luke Shorter and Cannon Wayne.

Visitation from 4-6 PM on Thursday, May 29 followed by a celebration of Will’s life at 6:00 will be held at T. M. Ralph, Plantation. In lieu of flowers, donations to Will’s favorite organizations would be welcomed:

Camp Ma-He-Tu
6 Soundview Drive North
Huntington, NY 11743
Or
Jack Kirby Museum
PO Box 5236
Hoboken NJ 07030