Aloysius J. ''Eli'' Hodkey, 87, Lorain Sports Hall of Famer, US Steel Retiree
Aloysius J. “Eli” Hodkey, 87, of Lorain, died Tuesday August 30, 2005 at the Hearthstone of Lorain after a three-year illness.He was born November 3, 1917 in Lorain and had been a lifelong Lorain area resident.
Eli graduated from Lorain High School and then served with the US Army Air Corps during World War II.
He worked at US Steel in Lorain on the raw materials docks as a bridge operator and relief foreman for 32 years retiring in 1980.
He was one of the first Major League Baseball Players from Lorain. A left-handed pitcher in the minor leagues for several years, he compiled a record of 109 wins and 47 losses and pitched two no-hitters. He pitched briefly for the Philadelphia Phillies in 1946.
Eli was a charter member of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Elyria Township and the church Holy Name Society, a member of the Minor League Baseball Alumni Association and a member of United Steelworkers Local #1104.
Eli was inducted into the Lorain Sports Hall of Fame in 1979. He enjoyed fishing and was an avid Cleveland Indians and Cleveland Browns fan.
He is survived by his wife of 63 years Helen Hodkey (nee Solomon), sons: James Hodkey of Lorain and Dennis Hodkey of Amherst, sister Clara Novak of Lorain, brother Raymond Hodkey of Lorain and four grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents Frank & Alice Hodkey (nee Jaworski), infant brother Ambrose Hodkey, brother Emmanuel “Noley” Hodkey in 2005 and sister Lillian Popovich.
The family will receive friends Thursday, September 1, 2005 from 2-4; 7-9 PM at the Gluvna-Shimo-Hromada Funeral Chapel, 3224 Broadway Ave., Lorain where the St. Vincent de Paul Holy Name Society will recite the rosary Thursday at 3:00 PM and the Lorain Sports Hall of Fame will conduct a memorial service Thursday at 7:00 PM. Funeral services will be held Friday at 10:30 AM in the funeral chapel followed by the mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 AM at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 41295 N. Ridge Rd., Elyria Township. The Rev. James Ols, pastor, and the Rev. John Slatcoff, deacon, will concelebrate. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery in Lorain.
Memorial contributions can be made to St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 41295 N. Ridge Rd, Elyria, OH. 44035