Harold Hohbach

1921 - 2017

Harold Carl Hohbach

1921 -2017

Harold Carl Hohbach, age 96, passed away on Dec.28, 2017 at his home in Atherton, CA. Harold was born in Plankinton, South Dakota on Dec. 3 1921. He was married to Marilyn Alice Krouser for 62 years and had 4 children.

Harold practiced patent law for 50 years, owned and developed multiple real estate projects, and was involved as an investor, officer and director in several technology start up companies.

Harold earned his B.S. in Electrical Engineering at South Dakota State University in 1943 and then joined the US Army Signal Corps serving as a first lieutenant in WWII in Germany and North Africa. He later served in the Army Reserve Corp as a Major. Harold then received his B.S. in in Business Administration at UC Berkeley followed by his J.D. from Boalt Hall, UC Berkeley in 1952.
Before starting law school, Harold worked for Westinghouse Electric Corporation. After graduating, he joined Flehr and Swain later to become Flehr, Hohbach, Test, Albritton and Herbert until 2002 when the firm merged with Dorsey and Whitney and Harold retired from law.

During those 50 years , Harold's practice covered a broad spectrum of technologies, including electronics, semiconductor manufacturing, mainframe computing, optically variable thin films and electro-mechanical, mechanical and medical devices. He had close working relationships with many Silicon Valley entrepreneurs.

The following years until his death he owned and developed significant commercial real estate projects in the California Avenue business district of Palo Alto.

Harold was also responsible for introducing the founders of the technology start up Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, later Guidant, and served as a board member for the early venture capital fund, Sutter Hill Capital.

Harold respected education and established professorships at SDSU and UC Berkeley.He also commenced funding of endowed positions at the Silicon Valley Archives at Stanford University Libraries.Through his Silicon Valley Luminary Society, Harold wanted to introduce the next generation to inventors. He commissioned a series of oil paintings featuring these pioneers at the age of their inventions.

Growing up during the depression in South Dakota, Harold was the oldest of 6 children. He drove a horse and buggy to school, studied by kerosene lamplight and picked up his lifelong hobbies of coin and stamp collecting.

Harold enjoyed work and continuously thought of ways he could contribute and accomplish what he valued. Very inquisitive and curious to the end of his life, he appreciated spending time with people of all ages. He enjoyed traveling, dancing, tennis and skied Shirley lake run at Squaw Valley until age 87.
Harold is survived by his wife, Marilyn; his sisters, Lorraine,Carol and Sharon; his children and their spouses, Douglas(Kay), Janet (Chris) and Ellen(Lance); his 11 grandchildren, Kasimira, Timothy, Pamela, Amanda, Cynthia, Joshua, Gerhard, Genevieve, Robert, Nolan and Elizabeth.
He is predeceased by his brothers, Carl and Lawrence; and his daughter Ann

A Memorial service will be held on February 2, 2018 at 2:00 at the Menlo Church, 950 Santa Cruz Avenue, Menlo Park

In Lieu of flowers donations may be made to the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law, Boalt Hall, 215 Bancroft Way,Berkeley 94720 or to the charity of your choice.