Leo Hacker

Leo "Opa" Hacker, 96, of Floral Park, New York, passed away peacefully on October 2nd, 2025.

He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather and the proud patriarch of the Hacker family - a man whose hands, heart, and hard work built a life of opportunity and joy for generations to come.

Born in Germany on May 27th, 1929, Leo emigrated to the United States to follow his wife, Elvira, determined to build a new life together. With courage and grit, he took on any job he could find - from working in a butcher shop to honing his woodworking skills at Hertz - before realizing his dream of starting his own construction company. Through sheer dedication and craftsmanship, Leo created a foundation of stability and pride for his family.

Leo's crowning achievement was the cabin he built in West Dover, Vermont, lovingly named Chalet Steigerwald after the forest region near he and Elvira's hometown in Germany. Every board, brick, and beam was laid by his own hands. It became the center of countless family memories - sledding, skiing, fort-building, and snowball fights that spanned generations. The laughter and love shared there remain a lasting tribute to the home he and Oma created.

Leo's legacy continues through his sons, Robert (Maryangela) and Thomas (Danna), grandchildren Jessica (Patrick) , Michelle (Anthony), Kyle (Erica) and Kiersten, and great-granddaughters Hannah, Harper, Charlotte, and Madelyn. His spirit lives on in every holiday gathering, every family song, and every story retold around the fire.

A lifelong lover of music, Leo played the baritone with the Foehrer Musik Freunde for over 50 years. He also loved to sing and play the harmonica and inspired that same joy in his family. Every Christmas, the family sings Stille Nacht around the tree and raises their steins to Ein Prosit at Oktoberfest - just as Opa would have wanted.

Opa's life was a testament to perseverance, craftsmanship, and devotion to family. His legacy is built not only in the homes he constructed, but in the love and traditions that bind his family together forever.

Services will be held at Thomas F. Dalton Funeral Home of New Hyde Park (125 Hillside Avenue) on Friday, October 17th from 3-9pm. Burial will take place at the Mount St. Mary Cemetery in Flushing, NY at 11 AM on October 18th. Meet at the Funeral home at 9:30 AM.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the American Heart Association or the American Cancer Society.