Daily Sitka Sentinel

Larry Allen Hoffman

Larry Allen Hoffman

Larry Allen Hoffman, a former Sitkan, passed away on Feb. 25, 2017, in Tampa, Florida, surrounded by his family. He was 69.

Larry was born on Nov. 26, 1947, to Doyle and Betty (Johnson) Hoffman in Longview, Wash. In 1954, the family moved to Ketchikan where they lived through all of Larry’s school age years.

In high school, Larry was a member of the National Guard. As family story has it, he missed too many National Guard meetings, so the Army drafted him right after he graduated from Ketchikan High School in 1966. For most of the two years he was in the Army, he was stationed stateside and enjoyed serving as a glorified chauffeur near San Francisco.

After his time in the service, he moved back to Southeast Alaska where he lived and raised a family in Sitka and then in Juneau. He apprenticed and eventually became a pipefitter, retiring in 2008. 

Larry had an admirable work ethic, which inspired many around him, especially his children. He would never admit it, but he cared deeply about helping others and would frequently go out of his way to help his family, his friends and even strangers.

He eventually settled in Portland, Ore., and married Judy (Duke) Hoffman on Oct. 15, 1990. They enjoyed traveling together – visiting friends and relatives and embarking on cruises. They spent many years in the Portland metro area until the desire for warmth, golf cart rides, and two-for-one drinks, led them to The Villages, Florida, where Larry happily spent the last year of his life.

Larry had a lot of love. He collected ex-wives, children, and pets and he loved them all very much. He also loved and cherished his friends; some of his best memories and stories included friends, rum, tequila, and attending obscure festivals and events in the middle of nowhere. Larry will be remembered for the love he showed his friends and family. 

He is survived by his wife of 26 years, Judy Hoffman; his children, Dan (Libby) Hoffman, Dena (Dave) Whipple, and Mindy (Morgan Montgomery) Hoffman; his grandchildren, Tori Tucker and Emily Whipple; his mother, Betty Hoffman; his brother, Richard (Rick) Hoffman; his brother-in-law, Bob Duke; his best friends, Lyle and Brenda Annis; and his dog, Maggie. He was preceded in death by his father, Doyle Hoffman. 

A party will be held for Larry on March 11, starting at 4:30 p.m. in the Cascade Grill at the Oregon Zoo, a place Larry and Judy loved and were members of for many years.  

In addition to his recent fight with mesothelioma, which he courageously took on at every turn, Larry battled Hodgkin’s and Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma for years. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (donate.lls.org).

Memories may be shared with the family at: EvergreenMemorialGardens.com.