Stephen Tobin Hopkins, 75, died unexpectedly from complications of a massive stroke on January 4, 2015, at the Broward Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Steve suffered a small stroke on the return home from a Christmas holiday in Cartagena, Colombia, with his wife and youngest son. Four days later, he experienced a catastrophic stroke and was never able to recover. Originally from South Windsor, Connecticut, Steve graduated from the University of Hartford, where he was a member of the NCAA Championship soccer team. He also received his MBA from Georgia State University. After graduating from college, Steve entered the U.S. Air Force flight program and would later pilot the B-52 aircraft during the Vietnam War, completing over 150 missions in the Southeast Asia area. He earned numerous medals including the Distinguished Flying Cross. After his tenure in the Air Force, Steve became a commercial airline pilot for Southern Airways, which through several mergers is known today as Delta Air Lines. He flew both domestically and internationally and retired in 1999 at the required age of 60. After retirement, he continued to work for many years as a check airman for Lufthansa Airlines, certifying Chinese pilots in Frankfurt, Germany. For the last 20 years, Steve and his wife, Jane, have lived in Perrysburg, OH. He had been a member of Rotary International in Perrysburg and served as its president in 2012/2013. Also a member of the Knights of Columbus, he had volunteered for numerous projects including Toledo's Read for Literacy program, St. Rose Catechism classes teaching second graders, and coaching youth sports. He had an inquisitive mind and enjoyed pursuing many interests and hobbies, including woodworking, photography, reading and traveling. In fact, he was in the process of making his youngest son a modern designed bed and had traveled to over 40 countries. He enjoyed playing golf and tennis, especially with his tennis buddies at 6:30 a.m. and lately, had fallen in love with the sport of sailing. But, most of all, he loved being with his family, especially with his two sons and two grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Alfred and Eleanor Hopkins of South Windsor, CT, and his brother, Alfred Hopkins Jr. of Meridien, CT. He leaves his wife, Jane; two sons, Tobin (Courtney) Hopkins of Chicago, IL, Mark Hopkins of New York, New York, and two grandsons, Cole Hopkins and Layton Hopkins of Chicago, IL. A memorial mass celebrating Steve's life will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, January 17th at St. Rose Church in Perrysburg and afterwards a lunch/reception at Belmont Country Club. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Perrysburg Rotary Service Foundation, P.O. Box 442 Perrysburg, OH 43552 or the Country Garden Club of Perrysburg, Endowment/Community Projects Fund, P. O. Box 818, Perrysburg, OH 43552. Published in Toledo Blade on Jan. 11, 2015. http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/toledoblade/obituary.aspx?n=Stephen-Tobin-Hopkins&pid=173797885

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Obituary​

Stephen Tobin Hopkins
October 4, 1939 - January 5, 2015