Elvin J. Hacker

Obituary for Elvin J. Hacker
After a year-long illness, Elvin J. Hacker passed away in Lexington, KY, on January 23, 2025. Born on St. Patrick's Day in Hyden, KY, 1946 to Anna Lee and T.R. Hacker, he grew up in Lexington, graduating from Lafayette High School. After serving as a Navy air traffic controller in Texas, E.J. returned to Kentucky and graduated from University of Kentucky with a B.A. in math in 1972. He graduated with a M.A. in mathematics from Eastern Kentucky University in 1973. He worked at IBM in Lexington, KY, and later obtained a law degree from Chase School of Law from Northern Kentucky University. He returned to Texas to work for the United States Post Office, but he had a second career teaching mathematics at DeVry University, where he was much beloved by his students. After retiring to Kentucky in 2015, he continued as an educator, tutoring University of Kentucky athletes in mathematics.
Despite his deep affection for education and mathematics, his true love was music. He played in many bluegrass bands in Lexington and Houston, some of which he sponsored by donating musical instruments. He preferred playing clawhammer banjo, but he also dabbled in fiddle, guitar and mandolin.
In addition to his students and music buddies, he brought light and laughter to a wide network of family and friends including but not limited to the following: Charlene Hacker Horn (Earl Horn), Lyn Hacker, Robert Daub, Tammy Horn Potter (Doug Potter), Jamie Horn (Brian Napier), Gabe Napier, Patsy Morgan, Merle Hacker, Rachel Vinicor Rodman (David Rodman), Dee Rodman, Gabrielle Rodman, Hank Rodman, Cathy and Junior Sebastian, Tony Morgan, Celdrin Bowling, Michael Roberts, Carl Allen McClanahan, Huberta Miller Jackson, Randy Fuller, and Gary Towery. Last but not least are his steadfast German Shepherd "Johnny" and two ginger barn cats, Nutter Butter and Mango.
We would be remiss if we did not express our heartfelt appreciation for the home health nurses from Baptist Health, Central KY Home Care, Central Baptist Hospital, UK Medical Center, Thomson-Hood Veterans Administration Home, the Care Staff sitters, and the Troy Bowling Veterans Administration Hospital teams who cared for him, especially Glory Enow from Home-Based V.A. Health Care.
Donations may be made in E.J. Hacker's memory to the Friends of Lexington Fisher House, a nonprofit providing shelter, food and assistance to veterans who travel to Lexington in need of medical care: https://www.friendsoflexingtonfisherhouse.org. Or, please consider a donation to the Alzheimer's Association Greater Kentucky and Southern Indiana Chapter: alz.org/kyin. His pets brought him great comfort, so donations in his memory could be made to Paris Animal Welfare Society: https://pawspets.org/
A celebration of E.J. Hacker's life will be held this spring on the family farm. He remains in our memories tuning his banjo, solving an algebraic equation or cradling a cat on his lap.
Care Cremation and Funeral Service is honored to be entrusted with final care.