Andrew Hoge

Longtime Anchorage resident and attorney Andrew Ellsworth Hoge, 72, died May 6, 2011, after a short illness.

A vigil service will be Friday at 4 p.m., with a viewing from 5 to 7 p.m. The main funeral Mass will be on Saturday at 10 a.m., with a brief viewing from 9 to 9:30 a.m., and a reception after the Mass. All events will take place at Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, 2901 E. Huffman Road.

Known to all as Andy, he was born Aug. 7, 1938, in Willoughby, Ohio, to William and Grace Hoge. He graduated from Ohio University in 1960 and received a J.D. from New York University in 1963.

Andy met the love of his life, Carol Anne Sissea Hoge, at Ohio University and they married in Canton, Ohio, in 1963. After a honeymoon out West, and desiring to escape a record Arizona heat wave, they moved to Juneau in 1963, where Andy took his first job as assistant attorney general of Alaska and later became the first attorney for the Alaska Public Utilities Commission.

In 1965, they moved to Anchorage, where Andy worked at Robison, McCaskey, Strachan & Hoge; co-founded Hoge & Lekisch, where he practiced for 25 years; and later worked at Hartig, Rhodes, Hoge & Lekisch.

Active within the legal community and a recipient of numerous awards, Andy truly loved the practice of law and the deep friendships he formed with his colleagues and clients over the years.

Above all, Andy was a man of great integrity, kindness and faith. He was a devoted family man who loved all those in his family and extended family. He was one of the greatest Dads of all time; his unwavering commitment to his children Kevin, Anne and Jenna was shown through his constant presence, encouragement, support and coaching -- often at a never-ending string of Little League baseball and soccer games in near-freezing temperatures. He adored his seven grandchildren.

Andy and Carol's love of travel and learning sent them on many trips together, gave them great tales of adventure, and helped secure their near-perfect Trivial Pursuit record. An avid golfer, Andy was often seen on the links at the first thaw and was also known to dance a mean two-step with Carol. He was an active member of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Church for over 30 years.

Andy will be missed greatly by all who knew him, but he will never be forgotten.

Andy is survived by his wife, Carol; son, James Kevin Hoge and children Evelyn and Traian of Anchorage; daughter, Anne Hoge Milliken and husband Michael and children Ella and Ava of Los Altos, Calif.; daughter, Jenna Hoge Swaim and husband Derek and children Luke, Jason and Nora of Winchester, Mass.; sister, Rose Mary Hoge of Pepper Pike, Ohio; brother, James Hoge and wife Drusilla of Wrightsville Beach, N.C., and children Michael and family and Peter; brother, William Hoge of Olathe, Kan., and daughter Elizabeth and family; brother, John Hoge of Addison, Texas; brother, Henry Hoge and wife Doreen of Willoughby, Ohio; sister-in-law, Gloria Sissea Schuler and husband Michael of Anthem, Ariz., and children Kimberly, Kristin and families; and sister-in-law, Elaine Macroglou of Scottsdale, Ariz., and children Lauren and Nikolas and family.

Both his parents, his daughter-in-law, Amy Lynn Denton Hoge, and sister-in-law, Barbara Hoge, preceded him in death.

In lieu of flowers, tax-deductible memorial contributions may be made to the Providence Alaska Foundation, Cancer Center Oncology Research Fund, P.O. Box 196604, Anchorage 99519, in memory of Andrew E. Hoge.