Terry Lydell Hochstedler of Bridgehampton “was a man of unwavering integrity, passionate faith,” with “a gift for storytelling that brought joy to many,” his family wrote.
Mr. Hochstedler died on June 17 at Quiogue’s Kanas Center for Hospice Care at the age of 58. “After a successful open-heart surgery, he continued to battle endocarditis and suffered a sudden brain hemorrhage,” according to his family. “Terry departed this life with his hope anchored in Christ.”
He was pastor of the Gathering, a home church on the East End. From 1989 to 2019, Mr. Hochstedler was active in Restoration Christian Church in East Hampton, the Christian Life Center in West Milford, N.J., and Hamptons Christian Fellowship in Noyac. He was an associate pastor, youth pastor, and financial administrator for Restoration Christian from 1994 to 2002, and served for a year after that as a youth pastor and financial administrator with the Christian Life Center.
Alongside his pastoral work, in the 1990s he worked at Schiavoni’s Market in Sag Harbor, and from 2003 to 2025 he worked in construction and project management for Lettieri Construction in Westhampton Beach.
“Terry lived a life poured out for others — mentoring young people, managing housing projects, teaching and pastoring others in their spiritual journeys, and leading friends and family on adventures around the world. His life encouraged those around him to dream big and walk fully into God’s calling,” his family said.
He played the drums and guitar and had “a passion for creating events to connect people, build relationships,” and allow people to “learn from one another.”
Mr. Hochstedler was born in Kokomo, Ind., on July 5, 1966, to Verl Hochstedler and the former Shirley Reynolds. He grew up in Indiana and Michigan, and graduated from Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Okla., in 1989 with a bachelor’s degree in business. On May 20 of that year, he married “the love of his life,” Karen Peele, and “together, they shared 36 years of love, faith, and partnership.”
Mr. Hochstedler is survived by six children: Luke Hochstedler of Mission Viejo, Calif.; Nathanael Hochstedler of Water Mill; Anika Robison, who lives in Lynden, Wash., with her husband, Isaiah; Jenna Hochstedler of Glendale, Calif.; Elizabeth Hochstedler of Bridgehampton, and Caleigh Hochstedler of Portland, Me. He leaves a granddaughter, Leia Elayne Salome Robison. His wife also survives, as do both of his parents and four siblings, Greg Hochstedler, Carmella Walters, Tonya Kemper, and Jason Hochstedler, all of Indiana.
A celebration of his life will be held on July 28 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Hamptons Church on Industrial Road in Wainscott. His family has suggested “donations toward a vision Terry passionately shared, a ranch out West — a future place of adventure, spiritual growth, sustainable living, and life-skills training for teens and families.” They can be directed to Karen Hochstedler, P.O. Box 1471, Bridgehampton 11932.
