Alan Hosking

Alan Hosking

Resident of Watsonville

Age 79, passed away on October 18, 2010 of sudden heart failure.

Mr. Hosking is survived by his wife of 33 years, Theresa, a son, Dylan, twin daughters Alana and Jessica, grandsons Tyler and Julien, "his favorite granddaughter", Kaylen, and father-in-law, Jeff D. Montgomery. He was preceded in death by his son, Montgomery "Monty", in 2000.

A native of San Francisco, Alan was born on New Years Day to Norman and Blodwyn Hosking who immigrated from the British Isles. He built several apartment buildings in San Francisco before moving to and building a home on Skyline Boulevard in Woodside. He was active in the King's Mountain community throughout the 40 years he lived there and helped build the Kings Mountain Fire House. After years of purchasing small properties and merging them together, Mr. Hosking became one of the largest land owners in San Mateo County, owning 3,000 acres of redwood forest, where he welcomed hikers and the P.I.T. motorcycle club. After much resistance, his land was acquired by the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District with federal and local funds. Concerned that so much land was taken off the tax roles that supported schools and other community resources, Mr. Hosking ran an unsuccessful race for county supervisor in 1982. Mr. Hosking moved his family to the Buck Estate in Woodside. He opened his home many times to benefit many organizations including the Las Lomitas School District, Children's Health Council, Girl Scouts of America and the Classic Car Club of America.

Alan loved the sea and renovated an ex-Coastguard lightship that once served San Francisco. He donated the ship to the National Lighthouse Society and it is open to the public at Jack London Square in Oakland.

Mr. Hosking's hobbies included restoring classic cars and has owned over 500 cars, entering some of them in car shows in Hillsborough and Stanford, and winning. He and Theresa moved to Santa Cruz County in 2005 where he continued to restore cars until the day he died. His carpentry skills evolved into inventing green housing. He also loved to travel with his wife to Europe, Asia, South America and Tahiti.

A tall and brilliant man, Alan was deeply loved by his children and many nieces and nephews; some who called him "Uncle Al, the kiddie's pal".

He will be laid to rest next to his son, Monty, at Skylawn Memorial Park in San Mateo. A celebration of his life will be held on his birthday, January 1, 2011. Email theresahosking @yahoo.com for time and location.