Hosek remembered for support of Whitefish Schools

Eric Hosek is being remembered as a dedicated community member and supporter of Whitefish Schools.

“He was punctual, he was there, he participated, he contributed. He was in a way a little bit contrarian, trying to think a little differently,” says Dave Fern, who served with Hosek on the Whitefish School Board from 2008 to 2011.

Hosek died on July 9 at his home after an argument with his son, who has a history of being diagnosed with mental illness, according to court records, and has been charged in the death.

Born in Anchorage, Alaska, in 1953, Hosek first came to Whitefish with his future wife Dusty in 1981. After getting married in 1985, the two spent their early years of marriage traveling the world together, covering four continents and 17 countries along the way.

Hosek continued his love for travel through his work at Travel Data Companies, AIS and Orbit, before finally landing at D.A. Davidson as Senior Financial Advisor in Whitefish, according to an obituary in the Pilot.

Hosek was twice elected to the Whitefish School Board in 2005 and 2008 and was a member of the Whitefish Education Foundation Board at the time of his death. He was also a member of the Flathead Nordic Ski Patrol, served on the Stumptown Ice Rink Advisory Board and was an avid volunteer.

During a recent Whitefish School board meeting, board chair Nick Polumbus opened the meeting with a moment of silence to honor Hosek.

“Eric was a true supporter of the Whitefish school system and the board,” he said.

Trustee Ruth Harrison served on the board during Hosek’s two terms.

She remembers Hosek as business-minded, but with a pinch of humor.

“Eric was a very astute businessman, first and foremost. He really understood finance and management. He was very good to work with that way,” she said. “He had a great sense of humor but he was very dry, and it would come out at unexpected times.”

Harrison remembered some of the surprising instances of Hosek’s humor, such as when a spelling bee was held as a fundraiser.

“He would take on a cause, say when we were doing the spelling bee. He’d be hilarious, he’d dress up in a bee costume and accost people on the street and introduce himself,” she said. “It was just hilarious to watch.”

Fern remembers Hosek for bringing different viewpoints to the school board and asking hard questions when necessary.

In one case, when the district and the public were at odds over how long absences by students should be dealt with, Fern said Hosek was keen to consider the needs of both parties and come up with plans that worked best for all.

“I think he was really sensitive to the needs of parents and thought, ‘We ought to be looking at customizing some of these policies so they work for more of an [individual] client relationship,’” Fern said.

In addition, Fern said Hosek’s business acumen was put to good use on the board and within the education foundation.

“I think he’s going to be remembered for his work with helping create the Education Foundation. He was able to put his comfort with finance issues to good,” he said.

Dow Powell and his family have been neighbors to the Hoseks for nearly 30 years.

Powell said he and Hosek spent many years hunting and shooting trap together, and what also stuck with him was Hosek’s sense of humor.

“Eric Hosek was a very funny individual. He had a very dry sense of humor, he’d often come over to the garage and tell me his thoughts — he thought he was pretty funny,” Powell said. “We’re going to miss him in our neighborhood a lot.”

Powell said the work Hosek did for Whitefish and its schools will be remembered.

“I think in Whitefish he will be remembered for his volunteering within the school district. That’s one of the big things he gave to the community, his service to the school board and then continued on with the education foundation until the day he died,” he said.

Hosek is survived by his wife, sons Ian and Tanner, and siblings Mike, Bryan and Janie.

A celebration of life for Hosek is Friday. July 20 at 5:30 p.m. at 4500 Farm to Market Road in Whitefish.