John Hoffmann
January 14, 1933 - July 2, 2021
Born to Mary (Kessler) and John L. Hoffmann Sr., John graduated from Atlantic City High. He was employed at the Miss America contest for a few years as an usher and parking cars. At age 22 John enlisted in the USS Navy becoming an Electrician’s mate on destroyers, notably three years on the William C Lawe, completing four years of service. He used his GI Bill to go to college. He was employed at a toy designer educational manufacturing company while attending Temple University for his Engineering Degree. He went on to La Salle College for his Bachelor of Science and then completed his Business Practice Administration Degree at Bucknell University.
He married Mary Martin in 1960 and had four children. He moved on and was employed at CBS Broadcasting, N.Y. musical division of Columbia Records. He became a Production Manager and was responsible for 1200 employees on the production line. In 1973 he was pro- moted to Plant Manager and CEO of the Quadraflex Speaker Manufacturing Plant, known as Pacific Stereo, in Emeryville, CA. His future wife Arlene and five of her children moved with him to CA.
Going to night school, John went on to get his MBA at Berkeley, Hayward Campus. In 1987 John left CBS, moving to a position at Mare Island as an Instrument Mechanic, finishing his last nine years before retiring in 1996, due to closure of the Shipyard. He moved on to volunteering with Ken Zadwick to help save the artifacts left on the yard by the Navy. John along with Ken, Sue Lemon and a few others, inventoried and listed what was left in all the buildings for the Navy. John, along with Dolores Zadwick, became the financial keepers of the re- cords and co-treasurers for 18 plus years.
In 1984 John became a more active member of the BPOE Vallejo #559 Elks organization. In 1991-92 John became the Exalted Ruler. At the St. Louis Elk’s convention that year the theme was “Helping Special Needs Children.” With the Elks organization as a sponsor John started the Loma Vista School/Farm programs. In 1993 the first Loma Vista Pasta Taste of Italy dinner at the Elks was created, followed by pumpkin patches and barbecues, to Christmas for Special Needs Children. Forming 34 volunteers from friends, Elk members and neighbors, John incorporated six classrooms from Loma Vista, two from Dan Mini, two from Wiedermann and one from Mare Island, giving them 104 children. Purchasing Christmas presents became a large but fun chore including wrapping the gifts for each classroom. There was Christmas with Santa Claus at Loma Vista, Easter Egg hunts coloring 600 eggs and 300 plastic prized candy filled eggs, scarecrows, and pumpkin carving contests at the schools. In 2006 the Christmas Tree Farm came into being along with See’s Candy sales. In 1994 we were then asked by Steve Ash and Tuffy Williams to provide food, cold drinks and cook at the Special Olympics. Bringing the 40/8 train to the Olympics, festivals at the farm, giving these children rides made for smiling faces, grins and happy times. From Loma Vista to Yountville Veterans Home helping at picnics, giving train rides and American Legion Posts 550, 104, 40/8 kept all of us busy and making all more aware of the help needed in our own community.
John did many Red Ribbon weeks with Tony Pearsall, and poster contests on “Why I love America” came next. He helped and volunteered for the Marina Lions to sell See’s Candy, which was later transferred to the LV Farm as a fundraiser. He cooked and and helped at the Relay for Life with the Host Lions. None of these events could happen without all the dedicated volunteers and teachers that were with us every step of the way, our Special Ed teachers; Joyce Chambers, Lois Butler, Wendy Palmer, Merry Sierecki, Kyle Henderson, Bob Ingram, Mike Rittenhouse, Kathy Hellfeier and Larry Barroco.
John then went on to help at the Rebuilding Together Solano County sites, to OSIA Wine Tasting and fashion shows, Mad Hatter volunteer and the waterfront festivals. From 1974 to 1996, in between the community work, John also put together white water rafting trips for our families and friends for 22 years.
We celebrate John’s wonderful life as a BPOE Elk, from being Exalted Ruler, to State Trustee, District Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler, State Ritual Chairman, State Business Practice Chairman, conducting Business seminars at conventions and on call for the Elk Lodges in Northern CA.
John was a devoted Catholic and Lazarus Minister at St. Basil’s Church for 11 years.
Besides family, John leaves behind a large legacy of community service.
He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Arlene; stepson, Gregory; his four children, John Jr. (Karen), Timothy (Sissy), Michael (Roxanne), and Mary Ellen (Dave); seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren, nieces, Judi McKnight, Joyce Fisher and Danielle; and nephew, John (Judy). He was preceded in death by his sisters, Elvira (Curly) and Ruth (Lenny); nephew, Chuck Adams; and stepchildren, Jackie, Jimmy, Cindy, Steven and Sharon.
A special thank you to Sutter Hospice Care for the dedicated nurses and aids keeping John comfortable these last six weeks at home.
A Funeral Mass will be on Friday, July 30 at 11 a.m. at St. Basil’s, followed by a Celebration of Life at USA Classics. John will be later interred at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Dixon.