Obituary of Eugene J. Hoffman

Eugene (Gene) John (Joseph Patrick Aloysius) Hoffman, as he sometimes introduced himself, was born July 25, 1945 in Chester, PA and died January 22, 2021 in Rehoboth Beach, DE from complications of dementia at the age of 75. Gene graduated from St. James Catholic High School in 1963 and met his wife Sandra (Sandy) at a high school dance. A foot shorter than him, he reportedly wooed her by asking if she was standing in a hole, and 54 years of marriage later, he still loved making her laugh. He was a devoted husband and caretaker of Sandy, and even as his ability to communicate diminished, he never stopped saying "isn't she beautiful" when she entered the room. After marriage Gene and Sandy made Delaware their home where he was a member of the Delaware National Guard. In 1969 he started a part time position at Happy Harry's Discount Drugs and held various positions before leaving as Vice President in 1985. He loved meeting new people and helping them, especially in his later roles in insurance sales and real estate where he found joy in helping others secure their future and dreams. Gene was one of 11 children, and always cooked for 13! He made huge Sunday dinners and was famous for his Spaghetti and Halupki. He loved hoagies, cheesesteaks, and Tastykakes, and was a Philadelphia sports enthusiast, particularly the Flyers. He loved to drive, and never minded hours in a car to visit a friend or family member, or secretly stock the fridge of his children. He loved to fix things, and there was no problem duct tape could not solve. He was silly and dependable and kind, always quick to add bunny ears to a neighbor in any picture. HE WROTE IN ALL CAPS. He was a perennial master of ceremonies, and loved leading the family Christmas white elephant exchange. He spent decades of summers on the Rehoboth boardwalk with his children and grandchildren, the light of his life and of whom he was enormously proud. He is survived by Sandy and their daughters Kimberly Schubert of Levittown, PA (Rick) and Dr. Jeannie Hoffman-Censits of Baltimore, MD (David), and Popopa to grandchildren Philippa Renna, Liam Aloysius Censits, and great grandchild Archer Renna due in the spring. He is also survived by siblings Joseph Hoffman, Gertrude (Trudy) Dent, Rosemary Kitto, Annette Bonacquisti, Cathy Norton, Michael Hoffman and Julie Hoffman, and predeceased by parents Mary and Joseph Hoffman, and siblings Mary Schnierer, Peggy Cebula and Christopher Hoffman. He believed in volunteerism and in 2010 he became the Charter President of Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club, and a multiple Paul Harris Fellow for his years of service. Donations in his memory can be made to the Annual Fund of the Rotary Foundation at https://my.rotary.org/en/donate or by check to the Rotary Foundation to his longtime Rotary colleague susan@susangiove.com. A Memorial will be planned when we can don a baseball cap and share our best Gene Hoffman stories after COVID. Online condolences may be made by visiting (www.paganofuneralhome.com).