Obituary of 'Chip" Hoyt

Gordon Chipman “Chip” Hoyt passed away in his Soquel home on January 16, 2024 in the care of his wife Kathleen Hoyt with the compassionate and indispensable assistance from Hospice of Santa Cruz County after a valiant struggle with Interstitial Pulmonary Fibrosis.  He was 75 years old.  Chip was born in San Francisco, CA on November 28, 1948 and was raised in the Bay Area by his remarkably bright, witty, kind and fun-loving parents Joan (Kenney) and Gordon Wesley Hoyt, all traits Chip emulated and practiced himself throughout his life. His family moved to Anaheim when he was 15 where he first met his future wife of 52 years Kathleen (Kapsch) Hoyt while both attended Villa Park High School. He worked in the automotive industry for 44 years including US Suzuki while attending Cal State Fullerton to obtain his Bachelor’s Degree; Peugeot Motors of America, which job enabled him to relocate to Soquel; and culminating with 28 years as District Service Manager for Hyundai Motor America.  
Chip had multiple hobbies and interests from racing the 1969 and 1971 Mexican 1,000 and the 1970 Baja 500 in his modified Volkswagen bus and his home-built dune buggy; to sailing, but mostly “messing about”, on his sailboat, the Dandy Dandy; to listening to KFAT/KPIG radio as well as old radio broadcasts and watching old cowboy movies; and to traversing the western United States after his retirement in his 1976 thirty foot Silver Streak trailer, a respite from years of group tent camping at the annual summer Garon's Vacation. His greatest joy and contentment was interacting with his family in his home in Soquel where he lived for 40 years, hosting many parties with a variety of themes for family and friends. He traveled worldwide including Japan, Western Europe, Haiti, Turkey, Greece and China (mostly at the behest or instigation of his wife, daughter Joan, or son Brian), but actually preferred being home surrounded by family and familiar things.
In addition to his wife Kathleen, he is survived by his many beloveds: daughter Joan Hoyt, son Brian (Zeynep) Hoyt, granddaughters Eleanor Howell and Caroline Hoyt, sisters Sally May and Claire (John) Hahn, cousins Raymond (Valorie) Hoyt and Robin Atkins and numerous, nieces nephews, very fond in-laws, and many close friends.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Hospice of Santa Cruz County, www.hospicesantacruz.org.

A private committal has taken place with an ensuing commemoration and celebration of his life. Condolences to Chip’s family can be made by visiting the Benito and Azzaro homepage.