David Neill Hotze Senior

1957 - 2026

David Neill Hotze, senior
07/01/1957 - 03/21/2026
David Neill Hotze, senior passed away peacefully on Saturday, the 21st of March 2026, in Houston, Texas, surrounded by his loving family.
David was born in Houston, Texas, on the 1st of July 1957, the fifth child of Ernest George Hotze, junior and Margaret Mary Fagan.
David is survived by his devoted wife of 29 years, Donna Heerensperger Hotze. He is also survived by his three children; David Neill Hotze, junior, Clare Snow and her husband Thomas, and Brendan Hotze; mother-in-law Annette Barnes Heerensperger; sister Margaret Lorraine (Gretchen) Heerensperger and her husband Dr. Timothy Heerensperger; brother-in-law Stephen Heerensperger and his wife, Wendy; sister-in-law Debra Heerensperger; brothers Steven Hotze (his late wife Janie), Bruce Hotze and his wife Beth, Jim Hotze and his wife Cindy, Mark Hotze and his wife Cathy, Rick Hotze and his wife Nancy, Chris Hotze and his wife Ashley.
He is also survived by his aunt Beatrice Fagan as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
He is preceded in death by his beloved father-in-law, Donald Heerensperger, just last month.
David grew up in Houston attending St. Michael the Archangel Catholic School and St. Thomas High School. He was a 1975 graduate of St. Thomas where he was a letterman for the Eagles football team, serving as the team's kicker. David's lifelong friends from St. Michael and St. Thomas were among the many who visited him during the seven months following his diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. David was a friend to all and one of his most endearing qualities was his ability to maintain friendships for decades and across continents. He was a fiercely loyal friend and was always at the top of the list to call when one of his friends was in need.
In late 1995, one month following the death of his beloved father, Ernie, David had a chance meeting with Tim's sister, Donna, at the home of Tim and Gretchen (David's sister). Under the guise of helping Donna procure auction items for a University of St. Thomas scholarship gala, David invited Donna to dinner on December 27, 1995. They enjoyed dinner with three of David's close friends, and six months later, they were engaged to be married. Years later, Donna discovered that what she thought was a first date had actually been characterized by David as a "business meeting" to his friends. Despite this seeming inconsistency, David and Donna both knew that it was a match made in heaven orchestrated by Ernie Hotze. On the 23rd of November 1996, David and Donna were married at The Church of the Annunciation in Houston, Texas.
David's greatest joy was being a father to David Neill, Clare, and Brendan. Raising his children in the Catholic faith was of vital importance to him. David imparted his love of travel to his children, and he and Donna rarely left them behind at home.
One of David's greatest qualities was his persistence (some may say obstinance), and this characteristic served him extremely well when he suffered a traumatic brain injury in March 2016 that left him with expressive aphasia, a communication disorder affecting his ability to speak. David worked tirelessly with a speech pathologist to regain his speech and his ability to converse with friends and family.
The Hotze family would like to extend their deep gratitude to David's loyal and loving caregivers Francisca Martinez, Gloria Ivory, Shelly Dobbins, Habiba Kamarade, and Tricia Brownell who provided care for him at home.
Family and friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from four o'clock in the afternoon until seven o'clock in the evening on Thursday, the 16th of April, in the grand foyer of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston, where the Recitation of the Holy Rosary will commence at half past six o'clock in the Jasek Chapel.
A Requiem Mass is to be offered at ten o'clock in the morning on Friday, the 17th of April at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Walsingham, 7809 Shadyvilla Lane in Houston.
The family wishes all to join them for the Rite of Committal that will immediately follow, via an escorted cortège to Glenwood Cemetery in Houston. Immediately thereafter, the escorted cortège will proceed to a reception at a venue to be announced during the service, where all are invited to greet the family.
In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests memorial contributions in memory of David N. Hotze be directed to St. Thomas High School, 4500 Memorial Drive, Houston, Texas 77007 or by visiting www.sths.org/support/fundraising.
Please visit David's online memorial at GeoHLewis.com where memories and words of comfort and condolence may be shared with his family.