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Home  / News & Publications /  Michigan Catholic News / 2009 /  A life of joy

by Michelle Samartino special to The Michigan Catholic
Published March 27, 2009

Michelle Samartino | The Michigan Catholic Pat Hobar sits at her computer, working on a term paper for a class at the University of Michigan-Dearborn.

Northville — Pat Hobar studies at least 20 hours a week for her classes at University of Michigan, enjoys hanging out with her sister and likes to pamper herself with manicures and pedicures. And if you're lucky enough to know her, she'll tell you about the time she served as an Army sergeant in World War II.

Yes, that's right. World War II.

Hobar won't reveal her age, but offers this: "Since I told you I was in WWII, you had to be 21 to join. So there. And if that does not convince you, I do not know what will.

"My experience is that no matter where you are, when someone knows how truly old you are, they treat you differently," she says matter-of-factly. "So I just never told the truth. For years I never told anybody that I was in the service. It dated me."

She is not easy to reach, as she must find time for her term papers (currently she's writing one on St. Thomas More) while caring for her 101-year-old sister, Caroline, who recently broke her hip from a fall. And when she does have time to talk, it's not easy to get a word in, as Hobar has many life stories to tell.

Hobar served in the Women's Army Corp during WWII, and recalls that on D-Day, she was at Lovell General Hospital in Fort Devens, Mass., awaiting the arrival of the first wounded. "I would interview them for their local papers, before they were sent on to their local hospitals across the country. In addition, I covered the various court martials, and wrote up the reports for the JAG office."

She was proud to represent the Hobar name in the Army, she says, because her father had passed away when she was 19, and she had no brothers or uncles.

After returning home, she worked as a copywriter for WKMH radio (which later became WKNR "Keener 14"). "Before long," she says, "I found myself doing several programs, in addition to writing all the copy for the station. They put me on the air from 8:05 a.m. to 9 a.m. Monday through Friday as Kay McCoy and her Sunshine Express."

Her talent was extended to movie reviews, doing "a Woman in the Balcony at movie theaters, such as the Hollywood and the Riviera," recalls Hobar, whose faith life revolves around St. John Neumann in Canton Township, Our Lady of Victory Parish in Northville and Holy Cross Parish in Detroit. She worked for WWJ (950 AM) from 2-6 a.m. for nearly four years before joining the public relations department at the Detroit Free Press, where she remained for 11 years and 4 months, "I handling the Ruth Alden Christmas Dress Drive.

Eventually she worked as the public relations director at Northland, and then as corporate director of public relations, handling all its grand openings including Twelve Oaks, Southland, Genesee Valley, and other centers around the country.

Soon after, she went on to do volunteer work while taking master gardener classes and serving on her condo board.

One day, she looked at herself and said, "Geez, I have an unfinished degree."

And that got her thinking.

A different calling

Michelle Samartino | The Michigan Catholic Pat Hobar looks over some of the books she must read for her university courses.

She already had some college education and was a sophomore at Marygrove College when her father died.

"I had to quit school and go to work and of course, the war came along …" she says. "I didn't realize I'd been pretty busy!"

In 2000, she returned to school. "I graduated from Schoolcraft with a two-year degree and a 4.0. Then I entered U of M at Dearborn, where I have had a series of marvelous teachers, as I did at Schoolcraft. I cannot tell you how much I have enjoyed school."

Rhita Boufelliga is a friend of Hobar's whom she met at Schoolcraft. Boufelliga gave Hobar a helping hand in the world of computers; both share a great respect for one another. "She is wonderful in every aspect," Boufelliga says. "She is very well educated, a continuous learner, and will take on any challenge with a smile. She is constantly learning new tricks on the computer. "It is really impossible to encompass her in words," she continues. "I thoroughly enjoy spending time with her. She has this way of making everything sound so interesting — even a trip to the grocery store starts to sound like something to look forward to."

Hobar will graduate in May with a liberal arts degree, specializing in religion, political science and English.

She goes on to describe herself as a "whoops baby," having come along long after her other 10 siblings … but won't say when.

One of her many lifetime highlights was a visit she went on with her friend, Bernadette, in 1956 to St. Bonaventure Monastery. "Fr. Solanus was a porter at that time. Bernadette introduced me and said, 'This is my friend Pat Hobar.'"

"He puts my two hands in his and says, 'I'm happy to meet you Patricia, and what can I do for you?' I said, 'Not a thing, Father, not a thing.'"

Fr. Solanus had been deceased for years when her nephew, a Capuchin priest, invited Hobar to the chapel. Hobar's sister, Caroline, requested she ask Fr. Solanus to help her find a new home. Hobar explained she wasn't sure if she was in good favor with him. "So I put my hand on his casket and said, 'You know, at our last meeting I said I did not want a thing from you, but my sister Caroline is now asking you for a favor …' " she laughs. "I love that story."

Family

Michelle Samartino | The Michigan Catholic Pat Hobar holds a photo of herself as a small child.

It's obvious how very much Caroline (having celebrations for her 90th, 95th, 99th and l00th and 101st birthdays) and her nieces and nephews remain an integral and proud part of Hobar's life. "No, I am not married," she says. Her eyes come alive when she proudly talks about her nieces and nephews and their children, as well as her goddaughter, who is second in command on a nuclear sub for the United States.

Because she doesn't have immediate family, "I pay my own bills, buy my own gas and groceries. I have to worry about the air, furnace and plumbing — all done by myself."

To help out with any home improvement work, she listens to "The Handyman Show." "I've bought two or three books and I get by," she says and laughs.

Because Hobar had open heart surgery last April, she took a few months off before she returned to school this past fall. And now, with her upcoming graduation in May, she will travel to Paris soon after.

Leisure time

Though she's had to watch many movies for her film class, she admits she cannot remember the last movie she saw in the theatre. She says her favorites revolve around Hitchcock films, "Lion in the Winter" with Peter O'Toole and Katharine Hepburn, "Moonstruck," "A Man for All Seasons" and "The Bridge on the River Kawai."

She marvels at the list of movies she's required to watch, such as "Robin Hood," "Casablanca" and "Moulin Rouge." "We have to watch 21 movies and there's a reading to go with it. I just finished a big section on how the 'Wizard of Oz' was made."

Entertainment, however, is something that Hobar can provide to others as well.

Boufelliga finds Hobar's stories fascinating. "She's done quite a lot and it is definitely such an inspiration to me. She doesn't shy away from anything or anyone; she can and will speak to everyone. It's really amazing to see her in action. She can walk up to a complete stranger and the next thing you know, they're friends! She is that charming."

One of Hobar's great stories includes one when she was a member of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.

Being familiar with the entertainment industry, she is quick to remember some of the big names of people she met. Hobar had a number of interesting interviews including Hattie McDaniels and Rosemary Clooney.

One year, AFTRA had a national convention at the Latin Quarters in Detroit and Hobar was in charge of entertainment.

However, Hobar had a momentary memory lapse when she couldn't recall the African American conductor who asked her to dance. "I was never a good dancer. I thought I was going to die! But he said most musicians have two left feet, too.

"Oh! It was Duke Ellington! I had called him in New York and asked him if he was going to be in town, to show up and make an appearance at the AFTRA ball. I didn't hear from him, but I kept a place at our table just in case.

"Those were little pluses that I have. Nice memories."

Besides a laundry list of required reading, she tries to squeeze in some leisurely ones. "Years ago, when not in school, I enjoyed biographies" she says.

She and Caroline are "news junkies," she says. "I keep the radio going all day. I try not to miss the 6 p.m. news on Channel 56, the Jim Lehrer program, 'Washington Week in Review' on Friday nights and the Sunday morning news shows. I switch from Fox to ABC to NBC. I do not have cable."

Boufelliga says Hobar is a role model not only for other seniors, but also for a person of any age. "I feel that she is my role model as I turn to her and try and get her opinion on all my major decisions," Boufelliga says. "She is very encouraging and always pushes me, very subtly, to challenge myself and reach for the stars. I think that seeing the way she leads life, balancing school and entertainment, family and friends, is a source of strength for me.

"In her modesty, she may think that I am exaggerating for the interview .... but she doesn't know or realize what a huge role she plays in my life," she continues. "I always think of her and look up to her and just like all little girls want to grow up to be like their mothers, I want to grow up to be like Pat."

Indeed, Hobar may be modest but speaks from experience when she encourages others to get out and make the most out of life. "Do the best you can," she says. Hobar took her own advice. And she's not complaining.