Donald Lawrence Hoffman

Donald Lawrence Hoffman was born in the Bronx, New York to Rebecca and Alexander Hoffman and grew up in a classic New York City tenement neighborhood of immigrants. On these streets, his athletic gifts and determined nature created presence and strength, which marked his life. He graduated from NYC Community College, worked with gangs as a counselor to support his studies, and became a teacher of developmentally disabled children. 

He returned from serving in the US Army during the Korean War to marry Audrey Friedman and they had a daughter, Lisa.  Though very busy, he continued playing basketball and tennis, with the additional passions of photography and wood crafting, while successfully pursuing his master’s degree in education. A major move was to Ventura County, California with his second family in the early 1970s. For many years he taught PE, science, art and psychology to middle schoolers in the Oxnard school district. Don became active in the regional tennis scene, leading the Oxnard Tennis Club for years. He also joined the City Council and served for decades. 

Hundreds of students were taught by Don in his more than 35 years of teaching in Oxnard. After retiring at 67, he was greeted with, “Hi Mr. Hoffman” wherever he went. Throughout his life, Don had a wish to help people, and would do so in a variety of ways, ranging from assisting older people in his neighborhood with managing their lives, to providing work to homeless military veterans. He was also very supportive of the family and friends he loved.  In 2003, Don met Sharon Kolsch, the woman with whom he would spend his remaining years.

When Don could no longer play basketball and tennis, he turned to table tennis.  Over the ensuing years, he hosted thrice weekly games for a group of friends known as “the guys.”  These relationships grew to involve wives and partners going to movies, shows and dinners.  Don loved making these kind of connections.

Don is survived by mate Sharon; daughter Lisa Beth Hoffman and her wife Crima Pogge; and son Neal David Hoffman.

There will be no public services. In lieu of gifts, please make a donation to Victory Outreach or Doctors Without Borders, with the notification going to Lisa.