Yesterday December 7, 2015 my father-in-law left this world for a far better place where others were eager to see him again. Richard O. Hoffman had turned 92 in October. Of lately he was in much pain from arthritis and he would often say that growing old was not pretty. He was ready to leave this world and had faith in the next.
As a daughter-in-law I was so blessed to have him in my life. It is as if the Lord sent him to me through his youngest child, my husband Roger. Each time we would visit with him Rick gave me a hug good-bye and told me that he loved me. My very own father didn't do that. My dad was a great dad but didn't show his affection.
It truly meant the world to me that Rick showed me this affection and I admired him as he truly was a really, really wonderful person!
The last time we saw each other I told him that I loved him and he said, "I love you too!" I will cherish my memory of him always.
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| Father's Day 2014 |
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| Our wedding in 1993 |
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| Granddaughter Tammy's Wedding |
Rick and Sylvia met in Oxford England while he was stationed in Europe during WWII.
They are together again. Sylvia was such a fun person and so beautiful.
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| Our home in Moore Township, PA |
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| Granddaughter Alison's wedding |
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| With Tammy's daughter, his great granddaughter Nikole |
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| With granddaughter Tammy |
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Such a nice looking couple always having fun on vacations and at home. My husband was a really lucky kid. His parents gave their family a beautiful fun filled life.  |
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| Army WWII Veteran European Bottom Right |
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| Vacation to Hawaii |
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| Rick loved gardening and took pride in his homes. |
Rick gave his family three gorgeous new homes during their lifetime. He also loved his cars and bought new ones every few years. He loved gadgets too, cameras, and movie cameras.
Right after I married Roger his dad had his 8mm films transferred to a video cassette. Watching the family movies was like watching episodes of "Leave It To Beaver".
The Hoffman kids truly had an ideal family life. Whenever they hit those bumpy times as all families do, Rick was strong and stepped in to make all things right again.
He didn't always have such an idyllic life. He grew up in the poor coal region of Pennsylvania in the small town of Fern Glen.
After he came home from the service in WWII he made his way to Somerville/Bridgewater, NJ where he found work at Johnson and Johnson Pharmaceuticals from which he retired.
He also had his own landscaping service on the side. Sylvia worked too to ensure that the family had everything they needed to live a great life. Roger remembers vacations to Lake Hopatcong, and Atlantic City on a yearly basis. They had a swimming pool in their backyard, and had lots of fun parties. Later Sylvia and Rick went on vacations to the Caribbean and Hawaii.
When I met them they lived in Solitude Village in High Bridge, NJ. After Sylvia passed away a few days after Mother's Day 2004 Rick sold that home and moved to a Senior High Rise in Bridgewater near the Commons. It was here that he was invited to a 100th Birthday Party that was featured on the TV show The Cake Boss.
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| His pals from his community when on an episode of The Cake Boss |
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| His friend's Cake Boss Cake |
Gone From My Sight
I am standing upon the seashore. A ship, at my side,
spreads her white sails to the moving breeze and starts
for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength.
I stand and watch her until, at length, she hangs like a speck
of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other.
Then, someone at my side says, "There, she is gone."
Gone where?
Gone from my sight. That is all. She is just as large in mast,
hull and spar as she was when she left my side.
And, she is just as able to bear her load of living freight to her destined port.
Her diminished size is in me -- not in her.
And, just at the moment when someone says, "There, she is gone,"
there are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices
ready to take up the glad shout, "Here she comes!"
spreads her white sails to the moving breeze and starts
for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength.
I stand and watch her until, at length, she hangs like a speck
of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other.
Then, someone at my side says, "There, she is gone."
Gone where?
Gone from my sight. That is all. She is just as large in mast,
hull and spar as she was when she left my side.
And, she is just as able to bear her load of living freight to her destined port.
Her diminished size is in me -- not in her.
And, just at the moment when someone says, "There, she is gone,"
there are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices
ready to take up the glad shout, "Here she comes!"
Diane and Roger, so sorry to hear of your loss....He was a man who led a full life with family and friends..Sending my heartfelt condolences.......Judith Polcari
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