Leo F. Jr. Hobaica

Mr. Leo F. Hobaica Jr., 68 of Los Angeles, CA, Soreze, France and most recently Utica, NY passed away on Tuesday December 30, 2014.

Leo earned his bachelors degree in Literature, Philosophy and Religion at

Le Moyne College and received an MFA degree in Fibers/Mixed-Media Sculpture/Installation from Lone Mt. College, San Francisco through Fiberworks, in Berkeley, CA. With prior teaching positions at SyracuseUniversity, University of Hawaii, San FranciscoState, EarlhamCollege and Grant Mac Ewen (Canada), the Character Animation Program at California Institute of the Arts hired him in 1996. In 2005, he became the Assistant Dean of the School of Film & Video. Throughout Leo's career he received many accolades and numerous awards, including a Fulbright Scholars' Grant, and spent a semester in Istanbul, Turkey as a visiting professor.

Leo was an interesting and immensely creative soul. His dedication to everything he did was incessant from the Peace Movement of the 1960's to the San Francisco Gay Liberation Movement to modern day causes. He was a truly innovative and creative artist, who lived life to the fullest, as well as a compassionate and caring mentor. His importance as a mentor to his students is equally rivaled by his kindness as a human being. Leo supported being different and was the kind of teacher/mentor who gave students the confidence to take risks in art making.

Leo is survived by his brothers Richard (Jennifer) Hobaica of Tarzana, CA and Robert (Cynthia) Hobaica of Marcy, his sisters Frances Desiato of Utica, and Therese Laffey of Indian Hill, NC. He was preceded in death by his mother and father, Isabelle & Leo F. Hobaica, Sr. of Utica. Leo also leaves his Aunt Florence Hobaica of Springfield, MA and his Uncle Joseph Saraceno of Los Angeles, CA as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins who will truly miss him.

We would like to thank and share our gratitude to Larry Desiato and Patty Femia for their love, help, kindness and patience during Leo's illness. We would also like to thank Leo's lifelong friends from Syracuse, Deborah Rose, Tom & Maureen Walsh, Bob & Katie Doucette and Howard Wolhandler for their never ending affection, love and dedication. We would like to acknowledge his dear friends Masha, Ruah, May, Ralph, Patrice, his CalArts family and his friends around the world, too many to mention. Lastly, we would like to thank the entire staff of Hematology/Oncology Associates of CNY for the amazing compassion and care that they gave Leo during his illness. The family will be eternally grateful to all those that touched his life.

Leo's family will celebrate his life and funeral Mass on Saturday, January 3, 2015 at 12:00 Noon at Mt. Carmel/Blessed Sacrament Church. The family will greet visitors at the conclusion of mass in church.

Service

Saturday, January 03 2015