William L. Hoffman
September 10, 2022

WILLIAM L. HOFFMAN (“Bill” or “Doc”): Of Columbia, Maryland, formerly of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, passed away on September 10, 2022, at age 98. Bill was predeceased by his beloved wife, Barbara, and loving daughter, Cindy Hankin, sisters June (Ed) Roth and Fran (Bob) Fleshin, brother-in-law Eli Shulman, and sister-in-law Arline (Mel) Buros; and he is survived by his son, Joe (Margie) Hoffman, son-in-law Ken Hankin, granddaughters Stephanie (Mike) Stein, Jennifer Hankin, Ellen Hoffman and Erica Hoffman, great grandsons Bradley and Colin Stein and sister Betty Shulman.

Bill was born and grew up in Youngstown, Ohio, attended Ohio State University, served as a radio operator in World War II, and then settled in Pittsburgh working as a self-employed optometrist. First and foremost, Bill was committed to family – to his father and sisters (his mother died at a very young age) as a devoted son and brother, working at the family delicatessen in Youngstown (where he developed a life-long addiction to deli food); and then to Barbara, the ultimate love and light of his life who he met at Ohio State; they married in Pittsburgh in 1949, and enjoyed 62 years of marriage. Bill established his optometry practice in downtown Pittsburgh and devoted himself to his young family, raising two children, Cindy and Joe, both of whom he often referred to as the “pride and joy” of his life. 

Bill remained loyal to Ohio State and Pittsburgh throughout his life, rooting for Buckeyes football, and the Pittsburgh Steelers, Penguins and Pirates. Beyond family and sports, Bill enjoyed spending time with friends, bowling, gardening, as a stamp collector, ham radio operator and family photographer, pickling green tomatoes and pickles (the ever-famous “Bill’s Dills”), and traveling the world with Cindy, Joe and Barbara. Later in life he enjoyed reading and quoting obituaries (hope he likes this one!).

In 2010, following Barbara’s death, Bill moved to Vantage Point in Columbia, Maryland to be close to his children and their families. He immersed himself in community activities (lectures, movies, sightseeing tours and concerts), and made many new friends among staff and residents. He was always quick with a quip or a joke for every occasion (“Bill-isms”), including, “I’d rather leave them laughing than crying.” 

Bill’s family is so proud of the life he led, and the values he exemplified as father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, son, uncle, relative, neighbor and friend - Bill was the epitome of a good man and a mensch.

Graveside Services and Interment will be held at Beth Shalom Cemetery in Pittsburgh (Shaler Township) on Tuesday, September 13th at 11 AM; the funeral will be streamed with a link available through Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc.  Zoom Shiva will be held Wednesday and Thursday, September 14th and 15th, at 7:30 pm each night; link available through family members and Congregation Beth El in Bethesda, Maryland.

Donations in Bill’s memory may be made to The Cynthia Hoffman Hankin Glioblastoma Research Fund at the National Brain Tumor Society or a charity of your choice.

Arrangements entrusted to Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc., family owned and operated. www.schugar.com 

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