Chris Hoch

Hoch, Chris James, 59, of Tampa passed on March 14, 2021. Chris was born in Binghamton, New York on December 31, 1961 to parent’s John and Mary Hoch. Chris graduated high school and then attended school for hairdressing. Hoch – as he was then to his friends  opened his first hair salon at age 19 in Endicott, NY with the  financial help from Aunt Anna Mae. He then traveled to Camden, Maine, to open his next salon. In 1981, Chris moved to Sarasota, Florida where he and a business partner, Al Ferrigno, started “New York Hair” which included eight salons! The business was eventually sold in 2010 and Hoch retired. For approximately ten years starting in the early 1980’s, he was the third key executive of Paul Mitchell Products. Hoch’s responsibilities included touring the US and getting on stage randomly to call hairdressers from the audience to teach the new styles and techniques in the industry. His largest audience was around 25,000 hairdressers in the Jacob Javits Convention center in New York City. Hoch had a larger-than-life presence with his warm open-mouth smile, long arms and legs towering over many with his 6’4” frame.  Hoch is predeceased by his parents John and Mary Hoch. He is survived by his life partner William Kalish of Tampa, brother John Hoch of Goose Creek, South Carolina, cousin George Hoch (Beverly) of Hillcrest, New York, Tom (Vana) Tzivanis of Syracuse, New York, relatives including the Tzivanis Cousin’s Club, many other friends and his beloved Lord Sir Bentley of Bayshore, the cutest teacup Yorkie. Private Services will be taking place on April 3.

A 40-Day Memorial Service will be held on Friday, April 23 at St. John Greek Orthodox Church in Tampa, FL, following the Pre-sanctified Divine Liturgy which begins at 10 a.m. Live streaming of the service will be available at https://livestream.com/stjohngoctampa/events/9631627

**The family has set up a donation page at The Humane Society to donate in Hoch's name**