Regan Miranda Hockenberry

Regan Miranda Hockenberry, 22, passed away from fentanyl poisoning on January 1st, 2024, in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Regan and her twin brother, Zachary, were born on July 19th, 2001, in New York City. The two of them, lovingly referred to as the two-headed monster, spent their young childhood causing light-hearted mischief and making people laugh all over Brooklyn. Regan started her education at Saint Ann's School where she made her first friends, and her creativity began to blossom. In the third grade, Regan transferred to the Brooklyn New School, a place where she solidified relationships with peers and teachers. Her fearless instinct for demanding justice became apparent in the fifth grade when she initiated a protest at recess in response to the school's ban on the book The Hunger Games. After elementary school, Regan attended William Alexander Middle School (MS 51) as a choral student and wowed classmates and audience members with her powerful and soulful singing voice. Following middle school, Regan explored her passion and incredible skill for writing, a gift she inherited from both of her parents, at Edward R. Murrow High School, where she and Zach were co-editors of the student newspaper. They graduated side by side in 2019. In addition to Brooklyn, Regan grew up spending weekends, summers, holidays, and vacations in Egremont, Massachusetts among family and friends, a place she held most dear.
Since graduating high school, Regan lived and worked in Grand Rapids, Michigan, a place where she met a beautiful and welcoming chosen family, and St. Paul, Minnesota, where she became closer with her aunt Amy and worked with young children on the autism spectrum. Regan attended The City College of the City University of New York and Belmont University in Nashville where she was working to complete her bachelor's degree in songwriting and intended to work in music therapy.
Regan's childhood in Brooklyn, NY was populated with people who loved music, dance, art, philosophy, and above all else, her. This community of creativity and love led Regan to her pursuit of music and her immense gift of caring for and teaching young children across the neurodiversity spectrum. Regan's love of music and community was contagious, and her absence leaves a gaping hole in the lives of so many.
Growing up, Regan was never afraid to be loud, take up space, and say exactly what was on her mind, a trait she carried through to adulthood. While Regan faced many struggles in her short life, something she never seemed to be was afraid or ashamed of who she was - something that left many of the people in her life in total awe of her. She commanded every space she entered and left each space more interesting and dynamic than it was before she arrived. She had a deep, hearty laugh and a sharp and unforgiving sense of humor, we are so lucky to have lived on this Earth at the same fleeting moment as Regan Hockenberry and we will cherish her life forever.
Regan is preceded in death by her grandparents, Jack and Nancy Hockenberry, her aunt Catherine Schmuker, her uncle Charles Slagle, and her cousin Lisa Blatz.
Regan is survived by her mother and father, John Hockenberry and Alison Craiglow, her brothers, Zachary and Ajax, her sisters, Zoë and Olivia, her aunts, Amy Hess, Susan Young, Sandy Hockenberry, and Hilary and Brittany Craiglow, her uncles, Craig Hess, Brett King, Tom Young, and Peter, David, and Timothy Hockenberry, her grandparents Elizabeth Holland and Robert Schweikert, and James and Shelley Craiglow, her cousins Ava Rudsenske and 13 others, and finally, her beloved cat, Moose.
In addition to those listed above, is an innumerable list of loving friends.
In Regan's memory, we ask that you please consider donating to any of the following three organizations that were deeply important to Regan and the communities in which she lived, and to our family. When donating please indicate in the notes, comments, or memo sections that the contribution is "In honor of Regan Hockenberry" or list her name in the Honorarium line if applicable.
The Brooklyn Autism Center: BAC Friends Program (https://brooklynautismcenter.org/donate/)
From a young age Regan was a volunteer and then later as an adult worked at The Brooklyn Autism Center (BAC), a private, non-profit school in Brooklyn, New York dedicated to providing high-quality education to individuals ages 5 to 21 with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). BAC Friends is a volunteer peer socialization after-school program designed to foster an inclusive environment and enhance social interaction and communication between individuals with autism and their typically developing peers in a fun, engaging, and inspiring setting - a community necessity Regan had always been passionate about. Regan and her siblings have been a part of the BAC community since its inception. As Regan grew up, her gift and love for working with children and adults on the autism spectrum blossomed and she continued this work across many organizations, including BAC.
CORA Dance (https://secure.givelively.org/donate/cora-incorporated)
Regan was a longtime member of the community at CORA Dance, a pay-what-you-can dance school committed to providing equal access to programs, personalized opportunities for youth seeking professional performing arts pursuits, and practices that expand integration in the community located in Red Hook, Brooklyn. Regan attended classes at CORA throughout elementary, middle, and high school as well as was a member of the CORA Youth Company (CYC).
AYA Youth Collective (https://ayayouth.kindful.com/)
AYA Youth Collective is a non-profit organization in Grand Rapids, Michigan working with youth and community partners to break cycles of homelessness. Regan spent a considerable amount of time in Grand Rapids jamming with friends and family, enjoying the beauty of western Michigan, and making many wonderful friends. Regan's love for the region and passion for helping others highlight the incredible work of AYA Youth Collective.