| Aloysius J. Hodkey
09/01/2005 The Morning Journal, Lorain, Ohio LORAIN -- Aloysius J. ''Eli'' Hodkey, 87, of Lorain, died Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2005, at Hearthstone of Lorain, after a three-year illness.
He was one of the first major league baseball players from Lorain. A left-handed pitcher in the minor leagues for several years, he compiled a record of 109 wins and 47 losses, pitched two no-hitters and pitched briefly for the Philadelphia Phillies in 1946. He was inducted into the Lorain Sports Hall of Fame in 1979. Hodkey was employed at U.S. Steel's Lorain Works on the raw materials docks for 32 years, retiring in 1980 as a bridge operator and relief foreman. He was a charter member of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, Elyria Township, and its Holy Name Society and member of the Minor League Baseball Alumni Association and United Steelworkers Union Local 1104 of Lorain. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. He enjoyed fishing and was an avid Cleveland Indians and Cleveland Browns fan. Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Helen (nee Solomon); sons James Hodkey of Lorain and Dennis Hodkey of Amherst; sister, Clara Novak of Lorain; brother, Raymond Hodkey of Lorain; and four grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Alice Hodkey (nee Jaworski); sister, Lillian Popovich; brother, Emmanuel ''Noley'' Hodkey, in 2005 and a brother, Ambrose, in infancy. Friends may call Thursday, 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. with a rosary at 3 p.m. by the Holy Name Society and memorial service at 7 p.m. by the Sports Hall of Fame, at Gluvna-Shimo-Hromada Funeral Chapel, 3224 Broadway, Lorain. Services there Friday at 10:30 a.m. will be followed at 11 a.m. by Mass in St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 41295 North Ridge Road. The Rev. James Ols, pastor, and John Slatcoff, deacon, will officiate. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery in Lorain. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 41295 North Ridge Road, Elyria, OH 44035. |
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