Michael Hozman

Michael Joseph Hozman went to his heavenly home early Saturday morning after a long and courageous struggle with Parkinson's disease. Michael was the firstborn child to Sam and Ione Ash Hozman in Santa Monica, CA on May 10, 1943 and resided in California until his retirement in 2000.\r\n\r\nMichael grew up in Santa Monica and graduated from Santa Monica High School before getting his bachelor's degree from Loyola University and his Master's Degree from California Lutheran University in 1979. During the time after high school and before college he served in the California Army National Guard and the United States Air Force and received an Honorable Discharge from both. While in the Air Force he was an Information Specialist responsible for being the editor of the Lackland Tailspinner, a newspaper at Lackland Air Force Base. He also served as a media liaison in the San Antonio area. After being discharged he served in the Air Force Inactive Reserves for two years and then the California Air National Guard from 1980 - 1981 where he conducted a radio show at KGIL. \r\n\r\nIn 1976 Michael began a long career in education starting as an elementary teacher in Thousand Oaks, CA. He spent the first thirteen years in elementary education and then became a middle school science and math teacher until his retirement in June 2000. During his career Michael received numerous awards for his outstanding service as an educator and was recognized by the Conejo Valley Unified School District for his leadership and class management skills. The recognition that he valued the most was from the students that came back in later years and told him how he had influenced their lives and had given them the desire to seek careers in the science/education field. Michael was always active in the teachers' union and during the last few years before his retirement he served as President of the Unified Association of Conejo Teachers (an affiliate of California State Teachers Union) and utilized his years of experience in the classroom to help formulate better teaching environments. \r\n\r\nAfter Michael moved to Kerrville in 2000 he worked for a few years at Tivy High School with the Reconnecting Youth program as a Primary Intervention Instructor. He also did volunteer work for the Kerrville Chamber of Commerce and the St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store.\r\n\r\nFamily was always an important part of Michael's life and he made an effort to keep in touch with his extended family, not only on holidays but throughout the year. He always enjoyed meeting family or friends for an evening visit over dinner and a chance to share photos and catch up with each other. Spending time with his sons watching football and baseball was another of Michael's favorite pastimes. Michael enjoyed traveling with his wife Michele and after his retirement they were able to enjoy many trips throughout the US and Canada and several cruises to the Caribbean and Alaska. \r\n\r\nMichael was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Tom and his youngest son Daniel who died in an auto accident in 2009. He is survived by his wife of 26 years, Michele and by his oldest son David of Kerrville, TX, step-sons Brad Morton and wife Emily of Fort Worth, TX and Clay Morton and partner Sarah O'Shields of Katy, TX. He is also survived by his sisters Cecelia Hozman of Tehachapi, CA, Maryann Griffith and husband Fred of Tulsa, OK, sisters-in-law Denise Hodges and husband Corky of Baytown, TX, and Carol Hozman of Shippensburg, PA, grandchildren Tyler Morton and Conor Morton of Fort Worth, TX and Sophie O'Shields and Sullivan Brimmer of Katy, TX, plus many treasured nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.\r\n\r\nA special thank you to the staff at Brookdale Nursing Center and New Century Hospice for their attention and care that they provided to Michael over the past year.\r\n\r\nThere will be a memorial service to remember Michael at 10 AM, Saturday, December 9, 2017 at Notre Dame Catholic Church. For those wishing to make a charitable contribution, the family suggests Saint Vincent de Paul Society or Our Lady of the Hills Catholic High School. \r\n\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n