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Hoover Liddell Obituary
09/20/1942 - 12/17/2024
It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Hoover Liddell Jr., on Tuesday, December 17, 2024, at the age of 82. Born in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1942 to Hoover Liddell Sr. and Bernadine Roby, Hoover grew up alongside his younger brother, Vernon. In 1950, the family relocated to Toledo, Ohio, where Hoover graduated from Scott High School in 1960 and earned his degree from the University of Toledo, in 1964.
In 1967, Hoover joined the Peace Corps and lived in Nigeria. Two years later, he moved to San Francisco, where he met and married Margaret Hodgen. Together, they welcomed their daughter, Maleka, in 1971.
Hoover dedicated his career to education, serving as a teacher, principal, and eventually an assistant superintendent. He was passionate about empowering African American students and creating meaningful change in the lives of young people.
He was also deeply passionate about climbing mountains and running. He climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, Mount Shasta, Mt. Diablo, Mt. Whitney and Mount Rainier. He ran 11 marathons, including the New York Marathon. He ran countless races and was a regular participant in San Francisco's Bay to Breakers.
Above all, Hoover will be remembered for his selflessness and devotion to his family. He cared for his mother until her passing at age 96 and supported his wife, Margaret, as she navigates dementia. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Vernon Sr. Hoover is survived by his wife of 55 years, Margaret (Hodgen) Liddell; his daughter, Maleka Liddell Brown, and son-in-law, Kevin Brown; his cherished grandchildren, Kyras, Kyle, and Paige; his nephew, Vernon Jr.; and his nieces, Chinna, Natalie, and Wendi. He has many great-nieces and nephews in Ohio and California. He is also remembered by many cousins and his Uncle Bill and Uncle Felix.
Hoover's legacy of kindness, integrity, and compassion lives on in the many lives he touched. He was an extraordinary man, and his family will forever be proud and grateful to have called him theirs.
To honor Hoover's memory, family and friends will participate in the Bay to Breakers in San Francisco on May 18, 2025.
A celebration of life is also being planned for that weekend.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Hoover Liddell
Jesse Jones fellow PCV
May 5, 2025
We shared exiting times in Nigeria as PCV's
Edward A Murphy
April 19, 2025
Hoover will live in those of us who shared his life
Gregory Peters
April 9, 2025
I was deeply fortunate to have worked with Hoover when I was principal at Leadership HS. He made a deep and lasting impact on my own work and leadership for equity. His unbending commitment to and focus on students... specifically those facing societal and systemic barriers remains with and influences me to this day. My gratitude for Hoover and his life will continue.
Gwendolyn E.March Jones
April 8, 2025
May your heart find comfort knowing that your love one is at home with the Lord
Love Gwendolyn E.March Jones and Family
Mary Ryan
March 22, 2025
I work for the SFUSD and knew Hoover. He was a very kind man, a dedicated man to anything he was involved in. I am sorry to hear of his passing.
Willie SANTAMARIA
February 25, 2025
My condolences to his family. He was a very good listener and always had a positive impact on people. He had that Hoover smile! Met him at SFUSD Central Office.
Family of Rickey Jones
January 19, 2025
Thank you for being such a great support for Rickey during his time at SFUSD.
Catherine Siemens
January 15, 2025
I remember meeting Hoover through his wife Margaret. She wanted me to meet him because he was, like myself, a former Peace Corps Volunteer. He and Margaret were bright spots in SFUSD. I was always so happy to run into him around the district. I also remember his passion for math education. What a fantastic legacy of service to our students!
Ken Harrington´s
January 12, 2025
Hoover helped me early on with my teaching career. He was supportive and genuine throughout. After SFUSD he would visit me at USF and drop by to discuss new projects and technologies that could be used to engage his students. He was a role model for all of us, we will miss him.
Robert Harrington
January 12, 2025
I was sadden to hear that Hoover, a very close friend for all the years we worked together at the SFUSD, has passed.
SUSAN RITTER
January 12, 2025
Rest in peace Liddell. What a beautiful man. We were blessed to have his help and support at Luther Burbank and Bal.
Sara saldaña
January 12, 2025
on or around December 17 I thought about Hoover Liddell and wondered where he was. I googled, but came up empty. I worked with him on a special project at the district about 15 years ago and felt so honored to have crossed paths with him. He was smart, compassionate, committed, curious. he was funny and joyous, and also serious. Today I open the newspaper to see that about that same day He left this earth. I am holding him and your family in my heart. Thank you for sharing him with us.
Dorothy Lathan
January 11, 2025
Thank you for Hoover Liddell's obituary. I needed the photo to remember him. I remembered the essence of him but not exactly how he looked. I worked with him briefly back in about 1975 and remembered how nice and gentle and soft spoken he was. He was a giant in the field of technology when it was new and nobody knew what it was all about and certainly didn't know how to use it. But Hoover was an expert in it and was so nice about sharing what he knew. That's how I remembered him. Just a sweet, very smart, gentle man and a gentleman. I had so much admiration for him and I was so pleased to work with someone like him. I am honored that I had a chance to know him.
Melissa Y Hicks
January 11, 2025
Mr. Liddell was my high school principal. He was a kind man who walked the halls to make sure everything and everyone was ok. My prayers go out to the family
Debra Eslava Burton
January 9, 2025
I was graced with Hoover´s kindness and leadership first as a student at Mission High School and later as a peer in SFUSD administration. Loved his insight and will miss him.
Virginia Marshall
January 9, 2025
Love, Sympathy & Prayers to the Family of my Beloved Supervisor Hoover Liddell who transformed lives of students here in the SFUSD especially African American students.
Jeanne Osbay-Bell
January 9, 2025
In loving memory of a wonderful person. We will love you and miss you always.
Laura Hurley
January 9, 2025
Hoover Liddell was my principal at Woodrow Wilson HS where I was sent after the strike of 1979 to teach Deaf students. I will always remember Hoover as a hands on principal, always in the hallways during passing periods speaking to students, going out of his way to know his staff.
I was going through a divorce and Hoover started mentoring my son, Chris when he started Wallenberg HS. Hoover and his wife attended my son's college graduation party.
Hoover was a life long friend of Chris and me. We will miss him, his caring and gentle soul.
I ordered 3 of Hoover's books he wrote and when reading "Journey of Kilimanjaro" felt he was laughing along with me on parts in the book he wrote on his experiences.
Edie Lewis
January 9, 2025
Mr Liddell was a great man and role model. He truly cared about all of his students at Woodrow Wilson.
Francisco Lopez
January 8, 2025
A good man
Thelford Dale Williams
January 7, 2025
Condolences to the Liddell family. Hoover was very influential during my years at Scott and U of T. That great smile made our last time together June 2019 memorable.
Debra Liddell Quarles
January 6, 2025
Hoover Jr. was a dearly loved and admired cousin. I remember his engaging smile and sharp mind. He was always looking to a bigger world outside of Toledo, though he didn't disengage in activities that allowed him to embrace classmates and family members in mutually enjoyable activities. He was a "Renaissance Man" before that became a commonly utilized term. He was truly a man before his time and I remember being in awe of my older brilliant 1st cousin. Even decades later our last conversations and correspondence reminded me of his sharp and empathetic mind. I'll treasure that last letter and avail myself to his daughter and grandchildren as they navigate this new territory without their loving father and grandfather. Rest in Peace Hoover Jr.
Victoria Li
January 6, 2025
Hoovers was a great and kind man. I was always impressed by his integrity and compassion for his students. Hoover wanted everyone to succeed. He fought for the things that truly mattered. His death is an incredible loss to the educational community.
Victoria Li
Adrienne Sciutto
January 5, 2025
I was a teacher at Woodrow Wilson High School. He was kind, hard working and dedicated to improving the education of the students- a truly outstanding person.
Janice
January 5, 2025
My dear cousin, I will miss you but know that you have joined some stalwart ancestors and with God's care you will find peace and power with those loved ones. With your leaving, a great tree has fallen. We will meet again on the other side.
Gail Dent
January 4, 2025
I remember Hoover as the principal of Wilson where I was a teacher. He was always soft spoken, thoughtful and encouraging. He was a dedicated educator. The world needs more people like him.
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