John H. Hoppin Jr, of Northport, Michigan, and Vero Beach, Florida, died at age 105 on August 8, 2024 in Northport. He was preceded in death by his wife Lillian Zimmerman Hoppin, his parents John H. Hoppin Sr and Bessie Woodcock Hoppin, and his four sisters. John is survived by his daughters Martha Hoppin, Anne (Tony) Hill, and Rebecca ( John) Freeman, 5 grandchildren, and 2 great grandchildren.
John was born in Detroit in 1918. He studied journalism at the University of Michigan. The Great Depression cut short his time there, but he returned many years later, to earn a degree in anthropology. John served during WWII in the Army Air Corp as a flight instructor training bomber pilots. After the war John began a business career managing a public relations company in Detroit. (He once spent the day escorting Marilyn Monroe around town to various photo shoots.) John then moved to the photography business, founding and managing Boulevard Photographic in Detroit until the mid-1960’s. Later he owned and managed several mobile home parks until 2018. John loved talking politics, playing golf (he sank his sixth hole in one at age 96), watching U of M football, drinking wine, eating pasta, and in his later years, playing bridge.
A graveside memorial at the Leelanau Township Cemetery is planned for August 31, 2024 at 2:00 pm. Donations can be made to the Leelanau Conservancy.
