Frederick Lance Hoopes

1941 - 2025

Frederick Lance Hoopes (Lance), 84, musician, educator, and school administrator, died peacefully in his sleep Monday, Oct. 6, 2025, in Fairfield, Conn. after a long battle with congestive heart failure.

Born in Leavenworth, Kansas, to Ernest Arthur and Theodocia Hoopes, Lance spent most of his life in southern Arizona.

From an early age he loved music, learning to play saxophone, clarinet, flute and other woodwinds. He attended Catalina High School and played saxophone for The Nightbeats, which released several singles, including "Sea of Love," "Lonesome Road Rock," and "Doreen" on Zoom Records. His first job was repairing clarinets at the legendary Tucson music store, The Chicago Store. Though he specialized in woodwinds, Lance "could play anything," and liked to collect unique woodwind and percussion instruments from around the world.

He met his wife, Maria Segura, while attending the University of Arizona where he earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in music.

A man of many talents, Lance was a passionate educator and musician but also a woodworker, making beautiful handcrafted furniture for family members. He left a legacy of friends, mentees, and fans throughout his life and brought his extraordinary leadership, frankness, warmth and wit to every community in which he was involved.

His book, 'Be the Adult: How to Make a Positive Difference in Your Students' Lives,' offers highlights from his career in public schools as a band director, educator and administrator.

A beloved father, brother, husband, and grandfather, Lance is survived by his three children, Patrick Hoopes, Claire Burns (Scott) and Tom Hoopes (April), and his brother Jim Hoopes. He is also survived by eleven grandchildren - Kam and Colin Burns, Cecilia, Olivia, Thomas, Dorothy, Benjamin, John Paul, Maria, Charlie and Anthony Hoopes - and thirteen great grandchildren Fyodor, Bertram, Clive, Aoife and Eowynn Pigg; Lorraine, Rose, and Leo Nordhus; Amelia, Thomas and Julian Hoopes; and Liam and Esther Rombach.

He was predeceased by his wife Maria Segura Hoopes (d. 2006) for whom he was a devoted caretaker during her life-ending illness, ALS. He later married Antoinette (Annette) Hoopes, who predeceased him in 2013. He spent his final years at Spring Meadows assisted living in Trumbull, Conn.

A Celebration of Life to honor Lance will be held in Tucson, Ariz. on February 14, 2026. Details will be shared closer to the date.