| Date of Birth | November 16, 1942 |
| Date Deceased | July 3, 2023 |
| Hometown | Hornell |
| Home State | N.Y. |
| Service Date | July 8, 2023 |
| Service Time | 10 a.m. |
| Service Location | St. Ann's Church, Hornell |
| Interment Location | St. Mary's Cemetery, Town of Fremont |
John M. “Toby” Tobin
HORNELL – John M. “Toby” Tobin, 80, passed away suddenly Monday morning (July 3, 2023) at St. James Hospital in Hornell, where he was taken after becoming ill at his home on Hyland Drive.
Born in Cortland, NY on Nov. 16, 1942 he was a son of the late Russell D. and Florence (Brooks) Tobin. Besides his parents, he was also predeceased by his stepson, Eric Buisch.
A graduate of Truxton Central School, John was a graduate of SUNY Cortland and later received a master’s degree from Alfred University.
He has resided in Hornell since 1964 and began his career with the Hornell City School District that same year. Throughout the years John was employed as a Health teacher, a Driver Education instructor and before he retired in 1998, he was a Physical Education teacher and the Faculty Manager. He attended all the sporting events that the school sponsored and coached soccer, baseball and assisted with the Invitational Track meets. He was also inducted into the Hornell High School Sports Hall of Fame.
During the summer months, John was employed by the City of Hornell as a firefighter/ambulance driver. For many years he was a bartender at the former Sunset Inn and was currently a bartender at the Southside in Hornell.
John was a member of Our Lady of the Valley Parish and was a communicant of St. Ann’s Church in Hornell and was a member of the Perpetual Adoration Chapel. He was also a member of the Hornell Elks Lodge No. 364, the Carducci Lodge in Hornell and was a former driver for the American Red Cross.
A fanatic for the Cleveland Browns and the NY Yankees, John enjoyed spending time fly fishing and hunting deer and rabbits.
John will be remembered most of all for being a devoted grandfather who always shared a word of encouragement and never missed any of his grandchildren’s sporting events.
He is lovingly survived by his wife of nearly 31 years, Rosalie Libordi Tobin who he married on Oct. 31, 1992; three children, James Tobin of Hornell, Kathleen Tobin of San Jose, CA and Michele (Gene) Doorley of Hornell; two stepsons, Mark (Kelly) Buisch of Hornell and Adrian (Kristen) Buisch of Rochester, NY; his step daughter-in-law, Laura Buisch of Arkport, NY; 10 grandchildren, Matthew (Kaelyn) Willcox, Brendan Buisch, Morgan Tobin, Anthony (Lu) Buisch, Elizabeth Buisch, Colin Buisch, Evan Buisch, Tayghan Doorley Maya Buisch, Ava Buisch and; one great-granddaughter, Margot Willcox; and one brother, Michael Tobin of Florida.
To honor his request there will be no calling hours. Relatives and friends are invited to meet his family at St. Ann’s Church, 31 Erie Ave., Hornell where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in his memory at 10 a.m. Saturday (July 8, 2023). Private interment will be at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Town of Fremont at the convenience of his family.
In lieu of flowers, those wishing may contribute in his memory to either St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 (www.stjude.org) or St. Ann’s Church of Our Lady of the Valley Parish, 31 Erie Ave., Hornell, NY 14843. Envelopes for memorial contributions will be available at the church.
The Bishop-Johnson & DeSanto Funeral Home, 285 Main St., Hornell is honored to assist John’s family with the arrangements.
Online condolences or remembrances of John are welcome below in the comment section or on the Facebook page of Bishop-Johnson & DeSanto Funeral Home.
My most sincere condolences to Rosalie and family. Mr. John Tobin was and will always be a class act. A true gentleman who greatly and positively influenced my life. Mr. Tobin you are missed and held in high esteem by me and so many others.
Shawn D. Hogan
What an amazing life, full of giving and community works. I truly wish we were able to have been in each others lives. My sincere condolences to Aunt Rosalie. I love you Uncle John.
– Erik Tobin
My condolences to the Tobin family. I called John my “eye in the sky” when we worked the Hornell football games. Now he is truly an “eye in the sky!” Rest easy my friend!
Glenn Thomas.
Colleen and I were saddened to learn of John’s passing. Our deepest condolences go to Rosalie and family; they are in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. Mr. Tobin was my soccer coach in high school and Colleen’s driver’s ed teacher, and we remember those days fondly. More than that, he was a close friend of my father’s, and our entire family greatly appreciated how John and Rosalie helped my Mom and Dad in their advanced years. He will be missed.
– Larry Castiglione
John Tobin was one of the finest teacher’s in the Hornell School district. I’d really wonder how many of us he taught to drive? Really enjoyed his friendship and his commitment to our Community throughout the years!! You will be most certainly missed Mr. Tobin, RIP dear friend.
Very sorry to hear of John”s passing he was a great friend and we had many adventures on the Golf course, my prayers and thoughts to go out to John and his family, he will be sorely missed. Dave BordeAUX