William Edward Hoblitzelle, III

Bill Hoblitzelle passed away Saturday, September 12th, three days after his 95th birthday. He was loved and admired by those who knew him, and we will miss him dearly.

Bill was born in Pittsburgh, PA, and later moved to Hamden, CT. He attended The Taft School and Yale University, later earning an MBA from Columbia University in 1955. Bill married Anne Lachman in 1953, and their son Win was born in 1954. He enlisted in the U.S. Army after graduating from Columbia and was stationed in Atlanta, GA-where his daughter Wendy was born-and later in Durham, NC.

After two years of military service, Bill and his family returned to Connecticut, settling in Hamden, where his son Chuck was born in 1960. Bill worked at Haskins & Sells for two years before joining his father at McCluskey Wire Company. He dedicated 11 years to McCluskey, followed by two years as the Director of Alumni Affairs at The Taft School. After a few years working at First New Haven National Bank, he bought Bacon Printing Company in Derby, CT.

In 1979, Bill married Rosanne Vance, welcoming her three children, Paul, Michael, and Bill Rowen, into his life. Bill and Ro worked side-by-side at Bacon Printing before selling the company to launch Hoblitzelle Graphics in New Haven, CT.

Sailing was the central passion of Bill's life, a love that began as a small child growing up on Johnson’s Point in Branford, CT. As a young man, he frequently took off on his Lightning sailboat for long, solo camping trips on coastal beaches. He took immense pride in sharing this passion with his family, often sharing stories of his ancestors' deep, historical connection to the sea. Following their retirement from Hoblitzelle Graphics, Bill and Rosanne brought this lifelong dream to fruition. They moved aboard their beloved custom yawl, Spindrift, spending several years sailing the Atlantic coast and the Caribbean, routinely voyaging between New England and as far south as Venezuela.

Following their seafaring adventures, they moved to Titusville, Florida, and later settled into a newly built home in Hernando, Florida, always spending their time together. Ever adventurous, Bill and Ro also explored the country and regularly visited family in their RV, fittingly also named Spindrift.

They returned to Connecticut in 2020, living first in Guilford and later transitioning to assisted living in Branford.

Bill was smart, caring, and fiercely loyal. He had a sharp mind and a lifelong love for crossword puzzles, books, and words. His quiet wisdom and gentle spirit will be remembered by all who knew him.

He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Rosanne. He is also survived by his sister, Lucie Iannotti of Branford, CT; his children, Win Hoblitzelle of San Francisco, CA, Wendy Hoblitzelle (Timothy McNamara) of Nashville, TN and Jackson, WY, and Chuck Hoblitzelle (Mimi Long) of Irvine, CA; and his stepsons, Paul Rowen (Sherry Rowen) of Wimauma, FL, Michael Rowen of Clinton, CT, and Bill Rowen (Jessica Rowen) of Guilford, CT. At the time of his passing, Bill was blessed with four grandchildren, nine step-grandchildren, and seven step-great-grandchildren.

The family extends their deepest gratitude to Bill’s caregiver, Assi, whose exceptional kindness, gentleness, and devoted care brought great comfort to Bill and his family over the last year, and to the Connecticut Hospice Home Care team for their compassionate care and support throughout the final months of his life.

Funeral arrangements are in care of Beecher & Bennett Funeral Home, 2300 Whitney Ave., Hamden, CT. A memorial service is being planned for the near future and details will be posted. To send condolences, please see Bill's obituary at www.beecherandbennett.com.