David F. Hodapp

Hodapp, David F., beloved husband of the late Molly T. Hodapp (nee McKenna), loving father of Ellen (Mike) Dillon, Dave (Callie) Hodapp, Susan (Chris) Arnold and Andy (Libby) Hodapp, cherished Pop of John and Alex Dillon, Abby and Louie Hodapp, McKenna, Morgan and Brennan Arnold, Nate, Emily and Katie Hodapp, brother of Carolyn (late Sam) West, Martha (late Brendan) Korte, Linda Hodapp and the late Tom Hodapp, brother-in-law of Cheryl Hodapp.

Dave Hodapp was a man you could count on. He was an accountant by education, a funeral director by profession and an expert in Geography. He lived a simple life. He worked hard and he always did the next right thing. He was a man of strength whom people relied on in their time of need. He loved our mom Molly, he thought she was super smart and a great nurse. He was proud of her. He always paid his bills on time and was generous to the causes he believed in – especially Catholic education. He appreciated what the Catholic schools gave him and what they did for his children and grandchildren.

He gave his all to his community and his community never forgot him. He made friends in the first grade at St. Clare that he has to this day. He was a principled man of common sense. He was always about making his community better. He started a community softball league and had all the gear in our garage, the neighborhood came together street by street to compete on weekday nights at St. Richards. The after party was often held at our house and the friendships remain to this day. As he watched his kids growing up playing soccer, he thought that was something that he might like to play. Friends and neighbors came together to form three College Hill teams in the over 30 leagues. Again, all the nets and field liner were in our garage. His community efforts weren’t all in sports – he also led the College Hill Christmas Parade, an annual tradition for many years that again fostered community participation as churches, schools and streets came together to enter floats, bands and talent on to the route.

He was competitive, and loved sports- though not professional teams. You would never find him at a Reds or Bengals game, and he rarely missed one of his kids or grandkids games. In the recent years, his favorite sport was whatever his grandkids were playing. The funeral home sponsored generations of College Hill baseball and soccer teams. He could remember the score from his grade school basketball games against St. Boniface or St. Agnes and who scored the winning point. He loved golf and enjoyed talking about each hole for hours, what he hit that day and the last umpteen times he played it. They were long time members of Clovernook Country Club. He had two holes in one! (Mom had 1).

He liked yard work and took pride in caring for our house, the funeral home and even his mother’s house on Belmont Ave. He loved Kings Island and ran from ride to ride, he didn’t understand why people would walk slowly, ride the train or watch a show. He loved Hilton Head Island. He jumped at the chance to buy into a shared house. Committed to the funeral home, we seldom vacationed as kids, but the grandkids know nothing different then an annual trip or two to the beach for rest and relaxation.

He was a diehard small business supporter, especially those in College Hill. He was thrilled to see the current revitalization going on. Growing up, we thought College Hill was the only place to live. As adults, we still seem to think that way, as we all remain in the 24 zip code. Many of our friends are long gone, having moved away, they are shocked to find that all four of us kids are still here. Our parents created a life worth emulating.

He was happy; he was kind; he was funny. He liked to laugh and he giggled until his last days over something funny in a movie or a story. He was supportive of his kids, even when we made mistakes. He often said, “There is nothing new under the sun, there isn’t anything you can’t tell your dad”. He gave sound advice.

These last few years were extremely difficult, especially the last 6 months. He was an inspiration in how he lived and in how he died. He really worked hard to maintain his abilities and when asked how he was doing- he always responded with an optimistic “improving”. He will be missed, there is a hole in our hearts and in this College Hill community.

Visitation at Hodapp Funeral Home, 6041 Hamilton Avenue, College Hill, 45224 on Friday April 25, 2025 from 4 PM until 7 PM. Mass of Christian Burial at St. Clare Church, 1443 Cedar Avenue, College Hill, 45224 on Saturday April 26, 2025 at 10 AM. Donations may be made St. Clare Church, Mercy McAuley High School or Ohio Valley Voices.