Casey Hoffman here, son of Robby Hoffman (author of this blog).
I'm deeply saddened to write that my father Robby died on January 10th, 2015.
He got a 1 in 100,000 infection in his replacement heart valve that shot blood clots all over his body causing multiple strokes on both sides of his brain. We made the difficult decision to let him go after 10 days in the ICU, knowing that's what he would have wanted (see his previous blog post from June 5, 2011 entitled Dr. Jack).
I would like to personally thank everyone who supported my dad, who read his blog, who befriended him over the years, and who understood the great man that he was. I'm not sure yet if this will be the last 1of7billion blog post or if I will continue it in his name, but I encourage you to go back and read some of his earlier blog posts to remember him and his words. This blog was important to him; it was his journal, his soapbox, his way to tell the world his ideas, and one of his many storytelling devices.
Please enjoy the below memoir that I wrote for his upcoming Celebration of Life followed by some of his favorite quotes and mottoes and a few photos of Robby with friends and family.
Robby Hoffman was...a Father, Brother, Friend, and Partner. Robby was...
“1 of 7 Billion”
people on planet Earth.
Through his blog, he never let us forget that he was no different than
any other human being, but that was far from the truth. Robby was truly one of
a kind and everyone who crossed his path knew that from the moment they met
him. He was an enigma and strived to…
“Be Different, Act Normal.”
Robby was a unique combination: an intense New York Jew, an
Ivy Leaguer, a Division I starting running back, a big brother, a helpful
neighbor, a philosopher, a journeyman, a mathematician, a carpenter, an
entrepreneur, a lover, a writer, a Seahawks fan, a chameleon, and a loving
father. He was truly the…
“Jack of All Trades.”
Robby
lived many more than nine lives in his 63 vibrant years. He kept one of each of his nearly 40 business
cards. Robby’s careers ranged from math
teacher to children’s writer, from sports coach to life coach, from propane
salesman to river guide, from starting a hospice program to directing Special
Olympics, from small business owner to nonprofit volunteer, from Mrs. Clean to
the Bartending Academy, from real estate agent to house-builder, from handyman
to “the man” at Home Depot, and more.
Robby was never afraid to…
“Try on New Hats.”
Robby was an idea guy, always in search of the next big
thing. At times he was unsatisfied,
critical, and angry, burdened by the weight of existence. However, in his last few years, Robby found
true happiness through his relationship with Elley, his growing community in
Oceanside, his writing, helping people at his work and in his neighborhood by
using his unique skill set and mind, and by making the most of each
moment. His family and friends who know
him best say that the past few years were the happiest of his life as he fully
came to appreciate that…
“It Is What It Is.”
Robby is now at peace and has joined his sister Lauren and
father Kenneth. He is survived by his
mother Shelley, sister Stacey, partner Elley, son/buddy Casey, parenting
partner Alexandra, brother-in-law Bill, nephews Jesse and Morgan, stepfather
Mario, stepmother Lynn, Uncle XOQ, his friends across the country, his
ex-partners, his amazing co-workers, his son’s friends, his blog followers, and
the many people he touched. Robby’s
legacy will live on in those that he loved, helped, befriended, and inspired
along his journey. Cheers to a great man
and another beginning!
Robby lived a full life, but it's hard not to feel like he left us too early. Best of luck Pops on the next phase of your journey and Another Beginning.
Robert Lawrence Hoffman
December 17, 1951 -
January 10, 2015
Robby's Favorite Quotes/Mottoes:
-Wizard of Oz
Life is 10%
what happens to you and 90% how you react to it. “
-Charles Swindoll
“Live
Long and Prosper.” -Spock
“Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you are going to get.”
“Stupid is as stupid does.” -Forrest
Gump
“Great spirits have always encountered
violent opposition from mediocre minds.”-Albert Einstein
“The self is not something one finds,
it is something one creates.” -Thomas
Szasz
“A vision without execution is a
hallucination.” -Thomas Edison
“The more people I meet, the more I
like my dog.” - Unknown
“There are no answers, only choices,
& there are no wrong choices.”
- Robby
“If you don’t stand for something
you’ll fall for anything.” -Alexander
Hamilton
“We may explore the universe and find
ourselves, or we may explore ourselves and find the universe.” -Diana Robinson
“Every time you see a butterfly, think
about the innocence and release of the people you knew who are gone in body,
but not in spirit.”
-Robby