Mark Andrew Hoffman, veteran, helped others
Mark Andrew Hoffman, 75 years young, passed away Tuesday, Oct. 29, in Lewes. Mark was a beloved husband, father, grandfather (Opi), brother, uncle, friend, and neighbor. His death has left a massive void in the lives of everyone who knew him.
Mark was born March 16, 1949, in Pittsburgh, Pa., to John William Hoffman and Winifred Corwin (Stein) Hoffman. He was raised in Clairton, Pa., a steel mill town, the second of four boys. He learned financial responsibility at a young age with his substantial paper route. His humble childhood was full of adventures with his brothers and lifelong friends, especially sledding the steep road in town and the annual family vacation to Ocean City, N.J., and he would come to be known for his love of dogs and cars. Mark graduated from Clairton High School in 1967, where he fortuitously studied German.
In 1968, after a brief stint at university, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and was assigned to the 66th Military Intelligence Group in Munich, Germany. This experience not only opened his eyes to the amazing, beautiful world beyond his childhood, but he also fell in love with Germany and Marianne, who would become his wife in 1970.
He returned to the States in 1972 with his wife, plus a daughter in tow, and resumed his education at Penn State in State College, where they proudly purchased their first home in a trailer park on Nittany Mountain surrounded by forest.
After earning his bachelor's and master's degrees, Mark's first job took his family to Detroit, Mich., where his son Jeffrey was born in 1977. The first of many career moves, as his hard-working pursuit of a better life for his family drove him to seek opportunities nationwide as a clothing and accessory retail executive.
In 2014, Mark and Marianne moved back to the East Coast to be closer to their children and granddaughters, and retired to Kings Creek in Rehoboth Beach. Mark spent his time outside in his yard and garden, by the firepit, traveling the world with his bride, volunteering with his dog Raven at Brandywine Senior Living, and patrolling the neighborhood on his motorcycle.
Mark's greatest joy was helping friends, neighbors, and family through countless acts of kindness. He could be relied upon to trim trees, move furniture, whatever was needed – always jumping at the chance to help, whether he'd been asked or not.
In 2018, he began to spend winters in Gulf Harbour in Fort Myers, Fla., where he treasured the new friends he made, enjoyed golf cart rides with Corby, and diligently and voraciously hunted the invasive cane toad to protect all the dogs he loved. He also volunteered to help first and second graders at Parker Elementary School, always seeking to give back.
Mark was funny, sensitive, and charming. He will always be remembered for his talent for tinkering, fixing, and creating in his yard, garage, basement, and garden, his travel rock collection, birthday cards with a drawing and a poem, and the many treehouses, massive snow people, wooden furniture, and rock walls he built. Mark loved singing Christmas songs, silently popping the champagne and making sure everyone's glass stayed full; walking his dogs and granddogs, watching them play and feeding them bits of his banana; and was often the life of the party on the dance floor at parties, weddings, and Oktoberfest.
Mark was predeceased by his infant son, Justin Andrew Hoffman, and many beloved dogs, whom he counted on seeing over the rainbow bridge.
Mark is survived by his partner and wife of 54 years, Marianne (Wegehaupt) Hoffman; his daughter, Vanessa Hoffman (Eugene) Elias of Wilton, Conn.; granddaughters, Chloe, Mia and Libby; son, Jeffrey Walther Hoffman of Vienna, Va.; his black lab, Corby; his brothers, Dennis Hoffman, David (Carol) Hoffman and Jay (Cheryl) Hoffman; as well as many extended family and friends the world over.
A Celebration of Life Service for Mark will be held at 11 a.m., Wednesday, Nov. 13, at The Lutheran Church of Our Savior, 20276 Bay Vista Road, Rehoboth Beach, with visitation starting at 10 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family recommends donations in Mark’s memory to Humane Animal Partners; or UA Future-US, for a specific humanitarian project in Ukraine in his honor.
All arrangements are being handled by Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, 16961 Kings Hwy., Lewes.
Visit Mark’s Life Memorial webpage at parsellfuneralhomes.com.
