Donald Houghton Hooker, Jr. (1941-2024)

Donald Houghton Hooker, Jr., 83, of Baltimore, Maryland, passed away on February 16, 2024, in his vacation home in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. He is survived by his daughter, Heidi Abbott; his son, Donald Houghton Hooker III; his grandchildren, Amanda Abbott, Joel Abbott, and Andrew Hooker; his sister, Meg Hanssen; and his loving partner of 16 years, Mary Bradshaw.

Don was born to Dr. Donald Houghton Hooker and Mary Green Harrison Hooker on January 9, 1941, in Detroit, Michigan, during his father's medical residency there. He spent his childhood in Holly Beach Farm, Maryland, growing up with 2 sisters (Betsy and Meg) and 2 brothers (Jimmy and Edmund).

After his family moved to Baltimore, Don attended the Gilman School and graduated in 1959. At Gilman, Don played on the varsity football, basketball, and baseball teams. He was in the Debating Society and elected to the Cum Laude Honorary Society for scholastic achievement. He enjoyed summers as a camper and counselor at Camp Pasquaney in Hebron, New Hampshire.

Following his father's footsteps, Don attended Princeton University and graduated in 1963. At Princeton, he majored in English, was a member of the Ivy Club, and served as a Chapel Deacon. He was on the Freshman Heavyweight Crew, the Varsity Baseball Squad in his sophomore year, and the Varsity Track Team as a javelin thrower in his junior and senior years.

After college, Don taught English at International College in Beirut, Lebanon. He was one of four in his Princeton class chosen to be the first teaching fellows at this K-12 boarding school, which draws students from all over the Middle East, many of whom go on to attend the nearby American University. Don made a dramatic entrance to his new job, arriving on a motorcycle that he had bought in Europe and driven to Beirut through Turkey and Syria.

Upon his return to the States, Don married Betsey Norris in 1965. He taught physics, coached, and lived at the Webb School in Claremont, California, for 5 years. He then returned to Baltimore to enter his lifelong career in commercial and investment banking,

Don served as Vice-President at First National Bank and President of First Maryland LeaseCorp. He retired as a Principal at Alex Brown & Sons. During retirement, he continued financial consulting independently.

Throughout his life, Don enjoyed the performing arts, travel, sports, reading, and clever jokes as well as deepening his education. He was an avid tennis and golf player. His inquisitive mind, sharp wit, playful sense of humor, and big heart will be fondly remembered by all who knew and loved him.

A memorial for his life will be scheduled at a later date.