Esther Sands Hocker

Wife of the late Lon Hocker Jr., died in Falmouth, Thursday, January 24th at the age of 99. She was a summer resident of Woods Hole her whole life and a year-round resident since the 60s. A life-long musician, she graduated from the New England Conservatory in voice and piano in 1929 and studied at L'Accademia Chigana in Siena, Italy. Afterwards, she sang leading roles in operas in Westchester County, NY and joined the Dessoff Choirs. After her marriage in 1937, she lived in St. Louis, Missouri. At the age of 60, she decided to learn the harp and played in small ensembles there and on the Cape in the summer. When she moved to Woods Hole year round, she played with the Cape Cod Symphony. Her husband used to joke as he transported her harp to concerts, "I wish she had chosen the piccolo". She is survived by a daughter, Priscilla Hocker Claman of Weston, Massachusetts, by a son, Lon Hocker III of Hilo, Hawaii, and by five grandchildren, including Emily Jackson of Falmouth, and 12 great grandchildren. A service will be held at the Church of the Messiah (Episcopal), 22 Church Street, Woods Hole, 508-548-2145 on Saturday, February 9th at 3 PM. Relatives and friends kindly invited. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to Amnesty International USA, 322 8th Avenue, New York, NY 10001 or Childrens Hospital Medical Center, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115.