Darryl Alan Hoyt, 82, passed away at his home in Lake Forest, California on February 4, 2023. He is survived by his children, Jeff, Jennifer (husband David Hemak), and Alison Hoyt; grandchildren, Peter Hoyt (fiancée Jordan Linss) and Elizabeth Fonseca (husband Nick); great-granddaughter, Isla Mae Fonseca; half-sisters Linda Priestman, Cindy Goldsbary, and Julie Banter; stepbrothers, Steven and Allen Hire; and his trusty dog, Teija. His wife, Kathy, predeceased him in 2015.

Born in Los Angeles, California on April 18, 1940 to Gordon Hoyt, Sr. and Geraldine (Bumpass) Hoyt, Darryl spent his childhood with older brother, Gordon, Jr., in Whittier, California, where the two brothers began their lifelong love of cars. On warm summer nights in the '50s, you could usually find them under the hood of a muscle car or cruising Whittier Blvd. In 1960, Darryl joined the Army and, after training in northern California and Texas, he spent much of his enlisted time as the most popular person in the unit – the postal clerk – in Florida during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Darryl met the love of his life, Kathleen Ann Borello, in 1966 while working at Stationers Corporation in downtown Los Angeles. After a year of courtship, they were married on July 22, 1967 and had their first child, Jeffrey Alan, the following year. 1970 saw Darryl landing his ultimate dream job, a DJ at KAGO Radio in Klamath Falls, Oregon. Darryl and Kathy's family grew with the arrival of Jennifer Leigh in 1972 and Alison Suzanne in 1975. The family spent 13 years in Klamath Falls, before moving back to southern California in 1983, where Darryl worked for the next 30 years in resort management, traveling often to Mexico and Hawaii. It was during this time that he solidified his signature look – a Hawaiian shirt and sandals. Darryl enjoyed traveling, having the good fortune to visit many beautiful countries – Spain, Poland, Singapore, Germany, Italy, and Cambodia among them. He appreciated experiencing other cultures, learning about their food, and making new friends.

A gregarious but quiet fellow, Darryl was often a man of few words, preferring to let Kathy's boisterous personality steal the show. In addition to his small group of lifelong friends, everyone who met him knew him as a man of integrity, a reliably "stand-up guy" who always maintained composure in a storm. He spent countless hours sharpening his mind. Books played a key role in life, as did cooking, puzzling, and gameplay. Whether doing crossword puzzles throughout the day or religiously watching Jeopardy! every evening, Darryl had a passion for trivia. More than anything else, he loved music. From studying cornet as a child to recent annual visits to the Newport Folk and Jazz Fests, music was the throughline of his life. One of his great joys was to share both new musical finds and old school favorites with friends and loved ones.

Darryl will be interred at El Toro Memorial Cemetery alongside his love, Kathy, on February 25, 2023 at 11am. A celebration of his life will follow at Rodrigo's Mexican Grill in Laguna Hills. All are invited to wear Hawaiian print in his honor and anyone who wants to will be invited to speak in his memory.