Homer Owen HACKER

News Death Notice

HACKER, Homer Owen noted artist and watercolor painter, passed away peacefully at his home in Centerville, Ohio on Saturday, December 20th, 2013 at the age of 96. Hacker was born June 14, 1917 and raised in Dayton, the son of artist/designer Owen E. Hacker and Mary Katherine (Wombold) Hacker. His art education began at an early age with classes at the Dayton Art Institute which continued through high school. He graduated cum laude from Ohio University in 1939 with a major in art. In that same year, Homer married the singular love of his life, Lydia Sarah McLean. From their first date in high school, through family building and finally, long term companionship, they were a complementary team. Together, they always approached life as a design opportunity and an adventure, striving to make better every situation, both negative and positive, that life presented them. Lydia died in 2005. Soon after Hacker graduated, he was hired as an artist-photographer for The Dayton Daily News. Five years later he was appointed to Art Director/Chief Photographer, a position he held until 1958 when his title was changed to Promotion Manager. In 1961 he left the newspaper and joined Top Value Enterprises, Inc., as Field Sales Promotion Manager. In 1963, Hacker pursued his lifelong passion for landscape and portraiture painting as well as teaching. He was elected a signature member of the American Watercolor Society (A.W.S.) in 1980 and became the historian of the organization. His paintings were accepted seven times into the Annual Exhibitions of AWS. He received the Elizabeth Callan medal for his painting "Ferry Tales" in 2009. Homer became a part of the group founding the Ohio Watercolor Society in 1979. He served on the Board of O.W.S. and as its President from 1989-90. In October of 2013 he was presented with the Jim Brower Lifetime Achievement Award by the Ohio Watercolor Society. He served as president of the Western Ohio Watercolor Society and was a member of both the Dayton Visual Arts Center and the Dayton Society of Painters and Sculptors. In 2007 he was awarded the Montgomery County Cultural Arts District Lifetime Achievement Award. Homer is survived by his sons: Thomas (wife Margaret), William, and Christopher (partner William Thomas). His son Richard died in 1992. He is also survived by his grandchildren: Dr. Sally Hacker (husband Dr. Ed Brook), Jenny Hacker (partner Afshin Gharib), Dr. Jacob Hacker (wife Oona Hathaway), Sarah Bell (husband Brigham Bell), Kiran Hacker and Alice Hacker (partner Jenstar Brockman), and six great grandchildren. The family would like to thank Grace Hospice and Graceworks at Home as well as all of the wonderful people who helped Homer in the last few weeks of his life. An Exhibit and Gathering of friends and family will be held at the Dayton Art Institute, 456 Belmonte Park N, Dayton, OH 45405 in the Shaw Gothic Cloister on Friday, January 31st between 5:30 & 8:30pm. Memorial Services will be held at Sugar Creek Presbyterian Church, 4417 Bigger Rd, Kettering, OH 45440 on Saturday, February 1st at 10am, with the Rev. Dr. Julia Wharff Piermont officiating. Followed by internment in David's Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Sugar Creek Presbyterian Church or the Ohio Watercolor Society-Hodnett Hacker Memorial Scholarship Fund at 3839 Wheatlands Rd., Sylvania, OH 43560. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.routsong.com.