William M. Hobby III

William M. Hobby III, 86, Intellectual Property Attorney and Fine Art Photographer

Bill Hobby was born in Millen, Georgia to Wensley and Nell Hobby and grew up in Swainsboro and Savannah, Georgia. After graduating from the University of Florida with an engineering degree, he worked for Bell Laboratories followed by the Naval Research Lab in Washington D.C. While in Washington he earned a law degree from George Washington University with a Patent and Trademark specialty, working briefly as a U.S. Patent Examiner.

In 1965 he moved to Central Florida with his young family, where he held a private legal practice for the next 55 years representing over a thousand clients worldwide, often collaborating on many of the technical innovations he was patenting.

A lover of modern art, Bill began collecting prints in the 1960s. In the 1970's he took up fine art photography - winning numerous accolades for his bold abstract work. He was also an avid reader of nonfiction, with an encyclopedia-like knowledge of history. He traveled with gusto all over the world exploring archeological sites, occasionally under semi-perilous circumstances, and almost always with his quick dry sense of humor.

Bill loved his adopted home of Winter Park, Florida and was, at various times, an active board member of the local theater and art museum as well as a member of the local archeology society. He could often be seen walking on Park Avenue, near both home and office, saying hello to neighbors and friends.

He passed away peacefully at home and is survived by his sister Helaine "Bobo" McKenney, his daughter Amy Hobby and son-in-law Joe McGinty of New York, and his wife Linda (Holtzclaw) Hobby and several nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the International Rescue Committee at Rescue.org to support Ukrainian refugee families and children.