Susan Wilder Hobby of Marthas Vineyard and Plymouth, formerly of Sherborn and Newburyport, MA, passed away peacefully with the love of her family at her side in her home on August 4th. She is the beloved wife of 60 years to John M Hobby. She was born in Long Island, New York on May 3, 1937, daughter of the late Ira and Evelyn (Hooper) Wilder. She had one brother Geoffrey Wilder whom she cherished. She was a graduate of Allegheny College where she received her Bachelor’s degree in English. Early in her career she worked for McGraw-Hill in New York City as a text book editor. She met her husband on a blind date and was engaged three weeks later. After Jack and Susan married, they moved about the country in their early years and soon began their family. They settled in Sherborn, Massachusetts where they enjoyed many years in this community and summered in Chilmark MA on Marthas Vineyard since the early 1970’s. Susan worked as a teacher in the Chickering School in Dover as well as the Newburyport High School . She was the best mother to John, Roger and Jill -always with a big smile, supporting them with her sound advice and cheering them on at all of their various activities and sporting events.

Susan was an accomplished artist with a deep love of painting in different mediums. She had an ability to be creative on so many levels. She loved preparing for her art shows on Martha’s Vineyard where so many supportive members of her community would buy her art and commission paintings. This is where she really thrived and felt a strong sense of purpose.
Nothing was impossible in her mind and she conveyed this message to her family and friends, she embodied this sentiment while facing many challenges in her later years with her supportive husband by her side.
Although Susan suffered a stroke 20 years ago, she continued to handle life with such grace and positivity. She lost the use of her right hand but continued painting with her left hand and was featured in an art show at the Spalding Rehabilitation Center. Nothing was impossible in her mind and she conveyed this message to her family and friends, she embodied this sentiment while facing many challenges in her later years with her supportive husband by her side.
She maintained her sense of humor and strong willpower in order to continue to do the things she loved most and truly inspired other’s along the way.

Susan is survived by loving husband John, her sons John Hobby, Jr. and his wife Christine of Franklin, Roger W. Hobby and his wife Kristen of Medfield and her daughter Jill Hobby Napior and her husband Jason of West Tisbury. She was the cherished grandmother of Ryan Hobby, Matthew Hobby, Maggie Hobby, Thomas Hobby, Lauren Hobby, Stella Napior, Camden Napior and Leo Napior. Susan was a loving and caring Aunt to her two nephews, Chris and Scott Wilder and nieces Jennifer Koslowski and Sandy Wilder Evers and her sister in law Susan Wilder-White. She will be forever loved and so dearly missed.


A celebration of Susan’s Life will be held at a later date. Cremation in Vine Hills Crematory in Plymouth. In lieu of flowers memorial donations in her name may be made to Susan Hobby Memorial Fund. We plan to donate to the organizations that helped her through her challenges . The address for the fund is POB 494 Medfield MA 02052. Thank you so much-