Dave Savastano, Editor02.13.20
William Richard (Rich) Hoster passed away on Feb. 9, 2020, in Ft. Myers, FL. He was 78.
Born April 10, 1941, in Philadelphia, PA, Rich graduated from LaSalle High School and later earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from LaSalle College. He met the love of his life, Pat, through mutual friends while working for Fleer’s Double Bubble Gum in Philadelphia in November 1962.
Rich was hired as a chemist by the Levey Printing Ink Company in 1963, where he began his career and lifelong service to the ink industry. That same year he married Pat on July 20, 1963; they would eventually have seven children.
In 1974, Rich went to work for Magie Brothers Oil Company and was instrumental in growing its ink business. Eventually, he became its president and also served as head of Penreco’s global solvent business after its merger with Conoco. He maintained offices in both Chicago and Houston.
In recognition of his dedication to the ink industry, Rich received the prestigious Technical Associate Member (TAM) Service Award from the National Association of Printing Ink Manufacturers (NAPIM) in 2000.
A Man of Utmost Integrity
Rich was remembered by many of his colleagues as a man of tremendous integrity and a friend to the industry.
Tom Gwizdalski, MaxSol business manager for Resolute Oil, LLC, joined Rich at Magie Bros. in 1989 and said Rich was a man of utmost integrity.
“Rich hired me back in 1989 to be Magie Bros. lab manager, and later that year asked me to take over Will Magie’s local Chicago accounts,” Gwizdalski recalled. “Over time, we became close friends as I managed the Magie business while he concentrated on a much larger corporate role in Houston. We traveled the world together and I got to see firsthand how well respected Rich was by everyone he dealt with. He was a man of utmost integrity, true to his word in the office or in front of a customer.”
Inksolutions president John Jilek Sr. first met Rich in 1990, when he became involved in purchasing decisions at Lawter. Jilek said that Rich was a partner to his customers.
“Rich ran Magie Oil as a ‘true’ partner to his customers,” Jilek said. “He was loyal to his customers and protected them through the ups and downs of the oil industry. There were never sudden price changes; he worked with his customers and protected them during the difficult times, to the best of his ability. He ran a great company.”
“Rich was a professional, ethical gentleman,” Jilek added. “He had a great passion for the ink industry and treated everyone with equal respect. He was a pleasure to be with and work with.”
Gail Ward worked with Rich at Magie Bros. and recalled how Rich brought her into the company.
“Like many, I was sad to hear the news of Rich’s passing,” Ward noted. “Rich was ahead of his time. He hired a young woman to work in the plant when most men would not even consider me for that position. He championed equal rights, was always a perfect gentleman, and was an icon in the ink industry. Rich will be missed by all that knew him and had the pleasure of spending time fishing with him.”
Kustom Group’s Mike Gerkin Sr. first met Rich when they were together at F.H. Levey Company.
“I knew Rich from our early days in the ink industry when we both worked for F.H. Levey Company,” Gerkin said. “He was a good friend and as great a representative of our industry as could be imagined. Marsha and I will miss him. Our prayers and our best go out to Pat and his family.”
Alan Kalmikoff of AIK ADVISOR spoke of how Rich led Magie Bros. to the leading position in petroleum distillates, yet made every customer feel special.
“In the heydays of the 1970s, 80s and 90s, the offset ink market enjoyed a renaissance period, and in particular, in the US, Magie Bros. enjoyed the preeminent supply position to the ink, flush color and offset ink vehicle industries,” Kalmikoff recalled. “Rich Hoster guided the firm through that period where Magie Bros. went from a family business to a dominant industry leader in the area of petroleum distillates. To me, having that special ability to make customers feel like they were the most important part, even when the company had the lion share of everyone's business, was a professional skill directly attributable to Rich Hoster.”
“A very fine professional manager, all-around great guy, who endeared himself to his staff, customers and colleagues alike, a top drawer fisherman and a pretty fair to middling golfer, everyone loved Rich,” Kalmikoff added. “I probably spent more time with Rich as a board member to NAPIM and he was a most respected member and an icon to the ink oil business. I know Rich will be sorely missed and my most sincere condolences to his family.”
Love of Fishing
During his time with Magie Brothers, Rich got the opportunity to enjoy his other passion, fishing in Canada where he met Denver Holden, a guide for Shady Roost in Lake of the Woods, where he enjoyed spending time with customers several times per year.
Apollo Colors’ Dave Klebine first met Rich in the late ‘70s when he was a salesman for Magie Oil.
“We hit it off very well right from the start. I always found that he was the consummate professional in all of our business dealings,” Klebine noted. “Our friendship blossomed in 1985 when I was invited to come on Magie Oil’s annual fishing trip to Shady Roost Lodge on Lake of the Woods in Ontario, Canada. That’s where Rich’s true personality shone through as he graciously entertained 20+ customers and organized every detail of the trip to keep everyone happy. I was fortunate to enjoy his hospitality for close to 30 trips to “the roost” and made many great friends with other ink industry personnel along the way. We still organize a small group trip to the roost every year and Rich always managed to be there with us and reminisce about the good old days. We will surely miss him this year.”
“Rich was an avid fisherman and loved going up to Lake of the Woods in Canada several times a summer. Many of us were fortunate enough to go along with him. Those trips built friendships that will last a lifetime and we all have him to thank for it,” Gwizdalski noted.
“He greatly loved The Shady Roost fishing camp in Canada, where he generously entertained Magie employees and many ink customers, to an incredible experience. Rich was ‘one of the good guys,’ and will be greatly missed,” Jilek added.
Devotion to Family
A devoted family man, Rich and his family took their annual summer vacations in North Wildwood, NJ, with both the immediate and extended family, at times having as many as 50 family members gathered on the beach in North Wildwood. This tradition continued even after he moved to Chicago and Houston.
Rich is survived by his wife Pat, brother Bob (Anita) and sister Jane (Bob), children Rich (Cathy), Patty, Susan (JD), Tim, Chris, Jeanette (Joe), Danielle (Dan), as well as his 12 and soon to be 13 grandchildren: Annaliese, Thomas, Olivia, Lauren, James, Jimmy, Joey, Benjamin, Nora, Sydney, Briana, Dominic, and baby Adamo. He is preceded in death by his parents Rich and Marie.
“Rich has a wonderful family whom he loved dearly and talked about often. My heart goes out to his wife Pat, their seven children and all their grandchildren. He was a special guy, a true friend and mentor and I am so honored to have known him for so long. He was like a second father and for that, I remain forever grateful,” said Gwizdalski.
“He used to say he was just a blue-collar guy in a white-collar shirt….trust me, he was a hell of a lot more than that,” Gwizdalski concluded. “RIP my old friend.”
Services are pending through Miller Funeral Home in West Dundee, IL.
Born April 10, 1941, in Philadelphia, PA, Rich graduated from LaSalle High School and later earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from LaSalle College. He met the love of his life, Pat, through mutual friends while working for Fleer’s Double Bubble Gum in Philadelphia in November 1962.
Rich was hired as a chemist by the Levey Printing Ink Company in 1963, where he began his career and lifelong service to the ink industry. That same year he married Pat on July 20, 1963; they would eventually have seven children.
In 1974, Rich went to work for Magie Brothers Oil Company and was instrumental in growing its ink business. Eventually, he became its president and also served as head of Penreco’s global solvent business after its merger with Conoco. He maintained offices in both Chicago and Houston.
In recognition of his dedication to the ink industry, Rich received the prestigious Technical Associate Member (TAM) Service Award from the National Association of Printing Ink Manufacturers (NAPIM) in 2000.
A Man of Utmost Integrity
Rich was remembered by many of his colleagues as a man of tremendous integrity and a friend to the industry.
Tom Gwizdalski, MaxSol business manager for Resolute Oil, LLC, joined Rich at Magie Bros. in 1989 and said Rich was a man of utmost integrity.
“Rich hired me back in 1989 to be Magie Bros. lab manager, and later that year asked me to take over Will Magie’s local Chicago accounts,” Gwizdalski recalled. “Over time, we became close friends as I managed the Magie business while he concentrated on a much larger corporate role in Houston. We traveled the world together and I got to see firsthand how well respected Rich was by everyone he dealt with. He was a man of utmost integrity, true to his word in the office or in front of a customer.”
Inksolutions president John Jilek Sr. first met Rich in 1990, when he became involved in purchasing decisions at Lawter. Jilek said that Rich was a partner to his customers.
“Rich ran Magie Oil as a ‘true’ partner to his customers,” Jilek said. “He was loyal to his customers and protected them through the ups and downs of the oil industry. There were never sudden price changes; he worked with his customers and protected them during the difficult times, to the best of his ability. He ran a great company.”
“Rich was a professional, ethical gentleman,” Jilek added. “He had a great passion for the ink industry and treated everyone with equal respect. He was a pleasure to be with and work with.”
Gail Ward worked with Rich at Magie Bros. and recalled how Rich brought her into the company.
“Like many, I was sad to hear the news of Rich’s passing,” Ward noted. “Rich was ahead of his time. He hired a young woman to work in the plant when most men would not even consider me for that position. He championed equal rights, was always a perfect gentleman, and was an icon in the ink industry. Rich will be missed by all that knew him and had the pleasure of spending time fishing with him.”
Kustom Group’s Mike Gerkin Sr. first met Rich when they were together at F.H. Levey Company.
“I knew Rich from our early days in the ink industry when we both worked for F.H. Levey Company,” Gerkin said. “He was a good friend and as great a representative of our industry as could be imagined. Marsha and I will miss him. Our prayers and our best go out to Pat and his family.”
Alan Kalmikoff of AIK ADVISOR spoke of how Rich led Magie Bros. to the leading position in petroleum distillates, yet made every customer feel special.
“In the heydays of the 1970s, 80s and 90s, the offset ink market enjoyed a renaissance period, and in particular, in the US, Magie Bros. enjoyed the preeminent supply position to the ink, flush color and offset ink vehicle industries,” Kalmikoff recalled. “Rich Hoster guided the firm through that period where Magie Bros. went from a family business to a dominant industry leader in the area of petroleum distillates. To me, having that special ability to make customers feel like they were the most important part, even when the company had the lion share of everyone's business, was a professional skill directly attributable to Rich Hoster.”
“A very fine professional manager, all-around great guy, who endeared himself to his staff, customers and colleagues alike, a top drawer fisherman and a pretty fair to middling golfer, everyone loved Rich,” Kalmikoff added. “I probably spent more time with Rich as a board member to NAPIM and he was a most respected member and an icon to the ink oil business. I know Rich will be sorely missed and my most sincere condolences to his family.”
Love of Fishing
During his time with Magie Brothers, Rich got the opportunity to enjoy his other passion, fishing in Canada where he met Denver Holden, a guide for Shady Roost in Lake of the Woods, where he enjoyed spending time with customers several times per year.
Apollo Colors’ Dave Klebine first met Rich in the late ‘70s when he was a salesman for Magie Oil.
“We hit it off very well right from the start. I always found that he was the consummate professional in all of our business dealings,” Klebine noted. “Our friendship blossomed in 1985 when I was invited to come on Magie Oil’s annual fishing trip to Shady Roost Lodge on Lake of the Woods in Ontario, Canada. That’s where Rich’s true personality shone through as he graciously entertained 20+ customers and organized every detail of the trip to keep everyone happy. I was fortunate to enjoy his hospitality for close to 30 trips to “the roost” and made many great friends with other ink industry personnel along the way. We still organize a small group trip to the roost every year and Rich always managed to be there with us and reminisce about the good old days. We will surely miss him this year.”
“Rich was an avid fisherman and loved going up to Lake of the Woods in Canada several times a summer. Many of us were fortunate enough to go along with him. Those trips built friendships that will last a lifetime and we all have him to thank for it,” Gwizdalski noted.
“He greatly loved The Shady Roost fishing camp in Canada, where he generously entertained Magie employees and many ink customers, to an incredible experience. Rich was ‘one of the good guys,’ and will be greatly missed,” Jilek added.
Devotion to Family
A devoted family man, Rich and his family took their annual summer vacations in North Wildwood, NJ, with both the immediate and extended family, at times having as many as 50 family members gathered on the beach in North Wildwood. This tradition continued even after he moved to Chicago and Houston.
Rich is survived by his wife Pat, brother Bob (Anita) and sister Jane (Bob), children Rich (Cathy), Patty, Susan (JD), Tim, Chris, Jeanette (Joe), Danielle (Dan), as well as his 12 and soon to be 13 grandchildren: Annaliese, Thomas, Olivia, Lauren, James, Jimmy, Joey, Benjamin, Nora, Sydney, Briana, Dominic, and baby Adamo. He is preceded in death by his parents Rich and Marie.
“Rich has a wonderful family whom he loved dearly and talked about often. My heart goes out to his wife Pat, their seven children and all their grandchildren. He was a special guy, a true friend and mentor and I am so honored to have known him for so long. He was like a second father and for that, I remain forever grateful,” said Gwizdalski.
“He used to say he was just a blue-collar guy in a white-collar shirt….trust me, he was a hell of a lot more than that,” Gwizdalski concluded. “RIP my old friend.”
Services are pending through Miller Funeral Home in West Dundee, IL.