Martha Alice Kithcart Hobach

HOBACH, Martha Alice Kithcart, 85, of Snell Isle, St. Petersburg, died peacefully at home with her family on Saturday, December 17, 2005. A Requiem Mass will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Friday, December 23, 2005, at St. Peter's Episcopal Cathedral, 140 ? 4th Street North, St. Petersburg, with The Very Rev. Dr. Russell L. Johnson officiating. Private interment will follow at a later time in the Kithcart family section at Memorial Park Cemetery. A second generation member of a Pinellas County pioneer family -- her father, Frederick I. Kithcart, an early grove owner and land developer, first came to this area in the late 1800's. Born in Buffalo, New York, she grew up in St. Petersburg attending Shorecrest, St. Petersburg High School, St. Petersburg Junior College and Rollins College where she was a member of Chi Omega Sorority. As a young woman, she excelled as a concert pianist as well as being an accomplished award-winning equestrian. Also active in the art of fencing and an active golfer -- she was always a winner. Following college she traveled extensively as an independent professional photographer for both Kodak Films and Life magazine at a time when it was #1 and often used many local family friends in her full page ads. Always spending all of her summers in Tall Pines, the summer home of her family in Laurel Park, Hendersonville, North Carolina, she also later owned there, The Haywood Forest Shop, a popular summer boutique specializing in resort wear and antiques. During her lifetime, her love of travel never left her and she often said that she had seen everything she ever wanted to see especially during her many "zigzag" trips around the world. Always giving much to the local community, she will forever be renown for her seemingly endless energy and her artistic creativity -- participating in many civic organizations and decorating many charitable affairs over the years. A versatile lady, later in life she won many international awards for her bronze miniatures as well as pursuing an additional degree in education from the University of South Florida which she used to teach elementary education and later art education at St. Petersburg Junior College. Also a busy lady, she simultaneously founded and ran 821 Designs, a commercial interior design company specializing in the design of new hospitals all over the state of Florida. Formerly, she was an active member of the Junior League, St. Petersburg Yacht Club, the Museum of Fine Arts Stuart Society and the DAR. She was also founder of the Bucketeer Boat Club which still enjoys an ever-increasing popularity. Survived by her husband Dr. George B. Hobach, daughter Alice Roess, son Douglas Caldwell, his wife Kathryn and two nieces. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to Hospice of the Florida Suncoast, 5771 Roosevelt Blvd., Clearwater, FL 33760 or St. Peter's Episcopal Cathedral, 140 ? 4th Street North, St. Petersburg, Florida 33701. We will miss her loving and giving heart and will cherish the memory of her forever. Online guestbook available at www.andersonmcqueen.com Anderson-McQueen Funeral Home & Cremation Tribute Center ? NE St. Pete Chapel in charge of arrangements.