James V. Hoeffner

James V. Hoeffner
James Vincent Hoeffner, Esq., passed away on March 6, 2021.
Compassionate and generous, Jim was a man who embodied decency, dignity, and humility and touched the lives of all who knew him.
Jim was born on May 19, 1953, in Dallas, Texas. The second born of Karl E. Hoeffner and Mary Beth (Stine) Hoeffner, he and his older sister, Karol, grew up in a loving home with strong family ties to grandparents and cousins from different walks of life: German-Russian immigrants on his father's side and a family of prominent jurists on his mother's side. The musical talents and traditions of the German-Russian family and the grounded, wise, compassionate resolve of his grandparents, Judge Vincent Stine and Alma Stine, would provide a profound impact for him in his future career and in who he would become as a man, husband, father, grandfather, and friend.
Jim attended Texas Tech University, where he earned a B.A. in History; he was a lifelong Raiders' fan and seldom missed tuning in on Saturday afternoon for a Tech football game. Inspired by his grandfather, Judge Vincent Stine, Jim cemented a century of family tradition when he enrolled at the University of Arkansas Law School at Fayetteville, where he earned a Juris Doctor and was a member of the Law Review.
He began his legal career with Walters and Associates in Lubbock, Texas, where he met and married his beloved wife, Suzanne Fisher, and adopted her young son, Chad DeBusk, whom he loved unconditionally, as his own. Together, they had one son, Drew Hoeffner, who - inspired by his father's wisdom, intellect, and love for the law - decided to become a lawyer, dually qualified in the US and France.
Jim was a distinguished attorney in bankruptcy law in Austin, Texas for nearly 40 years. He received numerous achievements throughout his career, including Super Lawyer in Texas Monthly every year since 2003, Who's Who Selection for Best Lawyers, and Lawyer of the Year for Bankruptcy for three years running beginning in 2018. Mentored by Judge Frank Monroe, Jim held his fellow lawyers and friends within the bankruptcy law community in high esteem. In the words of fellow lawyer (now retired) and friend, Judge Jeff Bohm: "He was the quintessential gentleman lawyer who always treated everyone with utmost respect but simultaneously knew how to zealously represent the interests of his clients."
While known for his numerous professional achievements, he will be most remembered by his family and friends for his good humor, compassion, wisdom, and generosity. He was a master storyteller and regaled us all with good jokes and bad puns, taking equal delight in both. He was forever curious, inspired by music, new technology, photography, politics, history, and travel. Growing up in a household full of music, he avidly collected electric guitars and played the synthesizers. His photography of people, historical places, and geography used cutting-edge graphic technologies to create a modern, original expressionistic perspective that was uniquely his own.
Jim believed in the power of forgiveness and renewal. Throughout the good times and the bad, he never gave up on anyone - nobody. This was the cornerstone of his personal faith, evidenced through concrete action.
He enjoyed trips to Manhattan Beach to see his sister's family and their extended circle of friends, as well as trips abroad to France and twice to Russia with his son, Drew, where he got to meet relatives from his father's side of the family and form a relationship with them.
Jim is preceded in death by his father, Karl E. Hoeffner, and his mother, Mary Beth Hoeffner. He is survived by his wife, Suzanne Hoeffner of Austin, Texas; son, James Andrew Hoeffner, Esq., of Paris, France; stepson, Chad DeBusk of Keeseville, New York; and grandchildren, Abigail and Zachary DeBusk; sister, Karol Hoeffner Shrodes, brother-in-law, Gregory Shrodes of Manhattan Beach, California; nephew, Travis Shrodes of Orange County, California; and niece, Nancy Shrodes of Los Angeles, California. He is also survived by many cousins, including Susan Jansen of Ennis, Texas; Jeff and Kathy Pierce of Henrietta, Texas; Vicky Spencer of Austin, Texas; and Mike Ryan of Austin, Texas.
The family will hold a Zoom memorial service on March 27th at 1:00 PM CST. More details will be forthcoming.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you make donations to the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children.
Arrangements by Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, Austin, Texas - (512) 452-8811. Remembrances may be shared at www.wcfish.com.