William James Hock's Obituary
William “Billy” James Hock, passed away on December 5, 2022 in his Miami home at the age of 75, surrounded by love. Billy was born in Lakeport, California on April 3, 1947 to James R. Hock and Josephine Berch, and raised in Grants Pass, Oregon, where he was the captain of his High School basketball team.
As a young man, he moved to San Francisco and was a founding member of the punk band, The Offs, performing under the stage name Billy Hawk. They recorded for CD Presents and 415 Records, and played venues like the Deaf Club and Mabuhay Gardens, appearing with The Dead Kennedys,The Lewd and The Sleepers. The band eventually relocated to New York, where they were integral in the 1980s avant garde art and music scene. When The Offs suddenly dissolved in 1983, and he simultaneously became a father, Billy carved a new path in real estate and continued to play occasionally while raising his two daughters, Eren and Melle.
An entrepreneur, avid traveler, and a quintessential man of the world, Billy relocated to Thailand in 2009, where he continued to expand his real estate ventures and had his third daughter, Willima “Billy”. In Thailand, he reignited his love for basketball while watching her play, and eventually became an AACU coach.
Billy was an artist, a musician, and a student of life, who believed our purpose in this world is to connect authentically with everyone we encounter. He is survived by his three daughters, grandson Miles, partner Benadine Nguyen, and loyal furry friend, Captain. We will forever carry him in our hearts, along with our family motto: Preserve Gangster Culture.
Services were held at Van Orsdel Funeral Parlor on December 12. Donations may be made in memoriam to Art Noir https://www.artnoir.co, in support of young artists.
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