Our neighbor Hooker Doolittle Van Deusen passed away on March 21, 2024. He lived for many years at 300 Tate Street, initially with his parents, Edwin Van Deusen, a retired Army officer who died in 2016, and Natasha Doolittle Van Deusen, who died in 2013. In recent years he lived there with his brother, Edwin. He was named after his maternal grandfather, Hooker Doolittle, a U.S. Foreign Service officer.
Hooker was 70 years old. He was a sculptor, potter and painter. He received his bachelor of fine arts degree from UNCG in 1978. He received the Chancellor’s Award that year for one of his paintings, which became part of the permanent collection at the Weatherspoon Art Museum. Many College Hill residents will recall seeing him throughout the neighborhood, walking his dog, Hannah.