Aart William Hoogenboom

Aart William Hoogenboom, 78, died surrounded by the love of his family in the late evening hours of Wednesday, June 18, 2025 at Danbury Hospital. Aart was born on February 13, 1947 in Queens, New York, the eldest son of the late Aart and Edna Hoogenboom.
Aart spent his early childhood in Valley Stream, New York and moved to Cheshire, Connecticut at age 8, where he attended elementary, middle, and high school. He graduated from Cheshire High School in 1965. He spent many hours of his childhood outside collecting rocks and developed a love for exploring nature that carried him to beautiful places all over the world. He loved hiking and camping in National Parks and especially admired the beauty and culture of the American West and Southwest.
He graduated from the University of Connecticut in 1969 with a Bachelor of Science in Geology, and shortly thereafter began his career as an Earth Science teacher. In his early years of teaching, he received a Master of Education +30 from Western Connecticut State University.
Aart was an Earth Science teacher at Wilton Public Schools for 42 years and touched a tremendous number of lives during his time there. He also coached the Wilton High School Ski Team for several years in his early career. He was a devoted environmentalist and had empathy for all beings on Earth. He was an advocate for wildlife and taught his students the importance of protecting the natural world. He often took his students on hiking and camping trips, teaching them conservation through immersion in nature.
Aart was an incredibly unique person who took interest in a number of things; primarily his love of Route 66, geology, and weather. He took his children on many cross-country road trips during the summers, showing them historic towns, neon signs, tri-state markers, and other hidden gems of the Midwest and West. Some of his other great loves included classic cars, biking, Hawaiian shirts, black and white cookies, and dry, sunny days.
The joy of Aart's life was raising his three children; David, Kevin, and Summer. He was a loving and present father who taught them empathy, kindness, and the importance of family. He was never happier than when he was with all three of his children, and especially loved holidays spent together. In November 2023, Aart's dream of becoming a grandfather was fulfilled with the birth of his grandson, Elijah. He absolutely loved babies and was overjoyed to welcome a new baby to the family. Aart was also excited to welcome a second grandson this coming November.
Aart fought courageously for seven years, including through two brain surgeries, following the diagnosis of a brain tumor in 2018. He continued to fight, adapt, and have faith as his challenges progressed. His tenacity and refusal to give up, paired with his good attitude and determination, were inspiring to all those around him.
For the last two years of his life, Aart lived at The Village at Brookfield Common in Brookfield, Connecticut, where he made many friends and became a beloved resident. His family is immensely grateful to The Village for helping and supporting Aart on his journey. His family would also like to recognize the staff at Danbury Hospital and Aart's brain surgeon, Dr. Nelson Moss at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
Aart is survived by his three children, David (Jessica) of Brookfield, CT; Kevin (Maud and grandson Elijah) of Lancaster, PA; and Summer (Jonathan Russell) of Somerville, MA; their mother, Judith Pennington; his sister, Nancy (Jerome) Beatty; and many beloved extended family members. He joins in Heaven his brother, John Hoogenboom Sr.
A celebration of Aart's life will be held at Dickinson Memorial Park in Newtown, Connecticut on Sunday, August 3, 2025 at 9:00 AM. Aart's family asks that his loved ones wear their favorite Hawaiian shirts and bring a small rock so that Aart can have an eternal collection of rocks from everyone he loved. Donations can be made in Aart's honor to Sierra Club or Save the Manatee Club.