Hope McEldowney Kobak

Hope McEldowney Kobak, a resident of Darien for over fifty years, passed away peacefully on July 19, 2018 at the age of 96 in her home in Redding, CT.   She was born on July 2, 1922 in Englewood, N.J. to the late Polly and Howard McEldowney.
                                           
Hope is survived by her beloved husband, James Kobak.  They were married for 76 years.
 
She is also survived by -- two sons, James Kobak, Jr. and Thomas Kobak; six grandchildren, James Kobak, III, Kathryn Stuart, Marcie Kobak, Kelley Kobak, Thomas Kobak, Jr. and Ezekiel Kobak; and four great grandchildren, Dean Stuart, Hannah Stuart, Olivia Kobak, and Graham Kobak. She was predeceased by her son John Douglas Kobak.
 
Hope was graduated from the Emma Willard School and attended Syracuse University.  After her children were grown, she was president of the leading book review journal, Kirkus Reviews. Books were her love and avocation.  She chaired the Book Review Committee of the Darien Community Association and supported the Darien Public Library, and organized the book club at the Ha’Penny Club in St. Croix, V.I. where she and her husband Jim had a second home.
 
Besides her ongoing love of books, she was also a supporter of independent off-Broadway theater. Her other passions included film, gardening, travel and entertaining.
 
Known fondly as “Grumpsie” to her family, she will be dearly missed. Her family will celebrate her memory at a private service.
Contributions in lieu of flowers may be made in Hope’s memory to the Darien Public Library, 1441 Post Road, Darien, CT 06820, or online at https://www.darienlibrary.org/donate
 

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