Hans Winberg

Hans Winberg (August 30, 1947 to October 30, 2025)
Hans Winberg of Plainfield, NJ, passed away at home on October 30, 2025, after a long and occasionally victorious battle with cancer.
Devoted husband to Victoria Winberg, he was the lucky father of four daughters, two sons, and most recently his beloved dog Winnie. He was also an inspiring mentor to hundreds of high school and college students. He taught at New Jersey City University and University City Charter High School in Jersey City.
Hans was born in 1947 in Port Chester, New York, to the late Cecil Boardman and Eric Winberg. During a peripatetic childhood, he lived in a few places from Italy to New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts. He went on to graduate from Peekskill Military Academy in 1966, prior to service in the U.S. Army 1st Infantry Division in Germany. After honorable discharge, he matriculated at the University of Connecticut and cultivated an enduring rooting interest in perennial champion UConn women's basketball teams.
A man of immense curiosity and intellect, Hans could learn just about anything: American history, flying a plane, playing 12-bar blues on guitar, starting a new business, or taking apart and then re-assembling a Harley.
A chance encounter in 1974 led him to rugby and dozens of new teammates, many of whom became friends for life. He enjoyed the social aspect of the sport as much as the athletic challenges and was a regular member of the club's first side.
Hans was well known for his vast store of jokes, some of which were funny. And for producing, when required, esoteric trivia regarding U.S. presidents.
Interesting objects intrigued him and over his life he collected many things, ranging from motorcycles to, recently, a full set of quarters celebrating significant American women. Most notable was his fascination with Pelikan fountain pens – a hobby that led him to produce hundreds of entertaining, hand-written letters to friends and family.
Hans, beloved by all, is survived by his wife, Victoria Winberg and children Penni and her wife Jodie Haak, Mercury and her husband Robert Libby, Ryan and his wife Laura Simko, Kyle and his wife Kirstie Fleming, and Michaela and her partner Nicole Nikolich, as well as eight grandchildren, Julia, Nesta, Freddie, Olivia, Ava, Bowie, Amelia, and Quincy, the delights of his life.
He is also survived by his siblings Kai Ketchen, William Hoisington, Michael Hoisington, Veronica Toal, and Lars Winberg
He was predeceased by his daughter Deirdre, and his siblings Andrea Hoisington and Barbara Hoisington.
Donations in Hans' honor can be made to the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.