Thomas Anthony Hoffman

June 13, 1931 - January 5, 2021 It is with deepest sorrow that we announce that our dear dad, brother, uncle, grandfather, great grandfather, and friend, Thomas Hoffman, passed away on January 5, 2021 due to complications arising from aspirated pneumonia. Thomas was born on June 13, 1931 in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, the second child of four children of Henry and Emily Hoffman. His childhood placed profound demands on him and his siblings as they lost both parents by Tom's early teens: his mother in 1935 and father in 1945. After the death of his father, Tom made a decision to seek a new start in Sioux Falls, South Dakota where he would eventually meet his future wife in high school, his beloved Cleone, whom he married in January 1953. Tom displayed his life-long love of learning as he pursued higher education graduating from Cathedral High in Sioux Falls, in 1949, College of St. Thomas in St. Paul in 1953 with a B.A. in Philosophy, and Georgetown Law School in 1959. With virtually no financial support, he achieved his education while working full-time and also raising a family with Cleone while he was at Georgetown. Prior to attending Georgetown, Tom and Cleone lived in Cambria Pines, California from 1954-1956 where he served in the Air Force as a radar control officer. After completing his law degree, the family returned to California where Tom passed the Bar Exam in 1963. Tom and Cleone settled in the small beach town of Manhattan Beach where the family grew to include eight children: five boys and three girls. Tom loved the community of Manhattan Beach and he was active in the local civic life. Indeed, his legacy is cemented in the history of the city. Tom was involved in youth sports, serving as President of M.B. Little League in 1969 in what was until then MB Little League's most successful year reaching the Regional finals in San Bernardino. He also served the community with distinction as a Planning Commissioner from 1976-1979, and as an advisor and campaign manager to various City Council Members throughout the Seventies and Eighties. Tom was also an esteemed member of the parish of American Martyrs Church and many of his children attended school at American Martyrs. Tom's professional life was as a lawyer, first and foremost. As the father of an ever-growing family with many mouths to feed, Tom made the decision to work for the Farmers' Insurance Group. There he rose through the ranks of attorneys, ultimately retiring from Farmers in January 1995 as Vice General Counsel. Tom also taught law as a part time Adjunct Professor at UCLA during the Seventies and Eighties. Befitting his character. Tom was always willing to help those locals who needed a lawyer but didn't have the means to afford one. After over five decades of living in Manhattan Beach, Tom and Cleone moved to south Redondo Beach where they lived until their passing. He will be fondly remembered by many and missed by all. Tom is survived by his eight children: Mark, David, Anthony, Martin, Bridgette, Henry, Ann, and Roberta, sixteen grandchildren, nine great grandchildren, two brothers and a sister.Memorial services will be announced later.The family has suggested that in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the National Society for Autistic Children.