Remembering Hobee’s Matriarch, Mary Taber (1921 – 2014)
We are sad to report that Hobee’s matriarch, Mary Taber, died peacefully in Hawaii on September 3rd after a brief illness. Mary was with her children, Peter and Connie, at the time of her passing.
At 92 years, Mary lived a full and wonderful life. She was born and raised in Hollywood, California, which no doubt influenced her lifelong passion for movies and television. As a young woman, she made the bold move to relocate to Hawaii. It was there that she met her husband, Paul, on the steps of The Moana Surfrider Hotel. Paul and Mary raised Peter and Connie in Honolulu while owning and operating some of the areas iconic restaurants, including The Green Turtle, The Sand Box and The Hofbrau.
In 1974, Mary and Paul moved the family to Mountain View to begin the first Hobee’s. What was supposed to be a single neighborhood restaurant became so much more. Mary was a key figure in Hobee’s history. In the early days, she loved serving the customers and often made the Energy Blends herself (always adding more whipped cream if she thought the guest was too skinny). Later, as the chain grew, she used her bookkeeping background to head up the payroll department. She worked well into her seventies and signed tens of thousands of payroll checks.
After Paul died in 1998, Mary decided that it was time to return to the island she loved: Oahu. There, she purchased a condominium next to the one owned Peter, who would often visit with his husband, Ed. Mary enjoyed this period of her life immensely. She kept up on the entertainment industry, visited her local Starbucks and enjoyed VIP status at The Halekulani Hotel, where she would dine al fresco at The House Without a Key. Mary was especially thrilled when Connie moved to Honolulu several years ago with her partner, Joe, and daughter, Alex. Connie was a devoted caretaker during the last years of Mary’s life and committed herself to providing Mary a comfortable, peaceful home.
All of us at Hobee’s will cherish the memory of her kindness, generous spirit and hearty laugh. Aloha, Malia!
