In Memoriam - Brother John Hofmann

I just received word today that Brother John Hofmann, OGH, passed away on June 16, 2006. Brother Hofmann was the glue that held the Cal Gamma chapter at the University of California at Santa Barbara together for some 30 years. Tough, opinionated, and extremely passionate about Sig Ep, Brother Hofmann was the epitome of a servant leader and a local legend amongst us volunteers here in So Cal and amongst the Richmond staff who worked with him in their travels. It was an honor and privilege for me to serve with him as a volunteer here in Southern California.

Below is the obituary that appeared in today's Cincinnati Enquirer. RIP Brother Hofmann. The thoughts and prayers of the hundreds (if not thousands) Sig Eps you touched are with you and your family.

HOFMANN John F., husband, father, and friend passed away June 16, 2006 after a courageous 15 month battle with a brain tumor. He was 58. John is survived by his wife of 20 years, Nancy; sons, Willie and Adam; a brother, Peter and his partner Amy Diffenderfer; and a sister, Cynthia Hofmann; a niece Madeline Hunt; a brother-in-law Lawrence Hunt; and cousins Susan Makos and Ann Smith. He was born in Middletown, Ohio, moved to San Diego, California in 1964 and graduated from La Jolla High School. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the University of California at Santa Barbara in 1970. He went on to earn his Juris Doctor degree in 1973 from the University of Cincinnati. He was admitted as an attorney and counselor at law in Ohio and California in 1973. He practiced law for over 30 years in Santa Barbara first with a partner Paul Roberts and then as a sole practitioner specializing in family, business and real estate law. He continued practicing law in Ohio where his family moved in 2000. He had a passionate interest in many hobbies including old home restoration, Victorian era antiques, stained glass windows, antique porcelain signs, model trains, and 1929-1931 Model A Fords. During his lifetime he restored many Victorian homes and many Model A cars. Much of his life had been devoted to volunteering. He has been honored by the Santa Barbara Jaycees as a life member for his extraordinary commitment to the organization, as well as being its Legal Counselor, and received the President's Special Citation in recognition of his outstanding service. John was active for many years in Special Olympics and received their recognition award for his support of the developmentally disabled. He served for many years as the Alumni Board President of the fraternity Sigma Phi Epsilon, the Cal Gamma chapter. For his tireless efforts to the fraternity, the John F. Hofmann Library was dedicated to him in 2001. That same year he was awarded the fraternity's highest award, the Order of the Golden Heart. This was given to him in recognition of his constant, faithful and distinguished service to his brothers and to Sigma Phi Epsilon. Throughout his life John has influenced and shaped many young lives, especially his two sons. He is missed. Funeral services will be held on Saturday July 8th at 4:00 p.m. in the Jon Deitloff Funeral Centre, 4389 Spring Grove Ave., the family will receive guests beginning at 3:00 p.m. Memorials may be made to the Juvenile Diabetes research Foundation (JDRF), 8041 Hosbrook Road, Suite 422, Cincinnati, 45236.

Funeral Home: Jon Deitloff
Funeral Date: July 8, 4 p.m.