Obituary of Don Amos Hoffmann

DON A. HOFFMANN May 17, 1923 - February 5, 2015 Don Amos Hoffmann, 91, of Goshen, NY passed away peacefully on February 5, 2015. Don was born May 17, 1923 in Berne, IN, the oldest son of Howard and Helen Hoffmann. His family moved to New Paltz, NY during his youth, where Don attended high school. He later studied music and secondary education at Ohio Wesleyan University from 1941 to 1943. During WW II Don served in the army from 1943 to 1946 and returned to school at Ohio Wesleyan where he majored in science and met his wife, Frances, whom he married in June, 1948. In 1947 he transferred to Northern Illinois College of Optometry where he completed the academic work needed to receive his BS and OD degrees graduating in September 1949. He completed his NY State Boards for his license in optometry in 1951 and opened his first office on March 15, 1951 in the Goshen Wehinger building. Ten years later Don moved his practice to 25 St. John Street in Goshen where he remained until his retirement in May, 1995, 44 years later, and saw more than 53,000 patients. Don was an active member in the community as a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Goshen where he served on the Board of Deacons for 3 years and on Session for 11 years. At Goshen Rotary he received recognition for 62 years of perfect attendance as an active member. He worked for a year with Tiny League Baseball from 1952 to 1953. From 1952 to 1970 he was active with the boy scouts as a troop committee member, and as a fund raising chairman of the Hudson Valley Council in the Goshen area in the sixties. Don was honored by the Hudson Valley Optometric Society for his service as treasurer for 25 years. He was a member of the Florida Legion Marching Band in the seventies and served as director of the band for over ten years. Don worked with the Goshen Lions Club Vision Program for 43 years, initially going to the schools to test the children, and later when the schools referred children with visual problems to him. All children received glasses whether there was money for them or not. In 1999 Don received the Goshen Chamber of Commerce Lifetime Achievement Award for his many contributions to Goshen in a lifetime of "Service Above Self." Don is survived by his wife of 67 years, Frances; son Howard Hoffmann of Vienna, VA and granddaughter Jessica; daughter Heather Nielsen and husband Paul of Fillmore, CA; sister Anne Renninger of Springfield, VA; nephew Dan Renninger and fianc Wana of Chesterfield, VA; niece Helen Hughes and husband Bill of Midlothian, VA; cousin Kurt Hoffmann and wife Cathy of Kingston, NY; and cousin Pauline Geyer of Ft. Wayne, IN. He will be greatly missed. A memorial service in his honor will be held at the First Presbyterian Church, 33 Park Place, Goshen, NY at noon on Saturday, February 14, 2015 followed by a reception in Fellowship Hall. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the First Presbyterian Church. .