Lewis Hoffacker

Lewis Hoffacker Lewis Hoffacker passed away peacefully, Sunday, August 18, 2013 in Austin, Texas with his two daughters by his side. He was born in Glenville, PA on February 11, 1923, the son of Beulah Barbehenn and Roscoe E. Hoffacker. He attended Hanover PA public schools, Gettysburg College, and the George Washington University, where he received a BA in International Affairs in 1948. He was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He earned a Masters degree in International Affairs at the Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy in 1949. He also studied at the American University in Beirut, Oxford University in England, and the National War College. During World War II, Hoffacker served in the Pacific Theater as a First Lieutenant (77th Infantry Division) and was wounded on Okinawa where he was awarded the Purple Heart. He entered the U.S. Foreign Service in 1950 as desk officer for Greece in the U.S. Department of State and served subsequently in Tehran, Istanbul, Paris, Elisabethville and Leopoldville in the Congo, Algiers, Yaoundé, Santa Isabel, Norfolk VA, and several tours in Washington DC, where he retired in 1975 as Special Assistant to the Secretary of State (Coordinator for Combating Terrorism). His last foreign assignment was as Ambassador to Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea. The Government of Cameroon named him Commander of the Order of Valor. In 1975 Hoffacker joined Shell Oil Company in Houston TX as Consultant on International Affairs and was active in the arts and international affairs in that city. He retired to Cape Cod in 1988 and served there as a volunteer with the Cape Cod National Seashore and the Hospice Association of Cape Cod. In September 1995, he moved to Austin, Texas. He served on the board of directors of Hospice Austin and was an active volunteer helping patients and families in their homes and in Christopher House. At Christopher House, he shared his love of natural beauty by helping maintain the garden there. Brothers Burnell and Dale Hoffacker preceded him in death. He is survived by daughters Anne (Jeff) Bradley of Boise ID and Rebekah Hoffacker of Atlanta GA, and siblings Virginia Allen of Williamsburg VA and Fred Hoffacker of Hermitage PA. Lew also leaves behind many, many dear friends around the world. Internment will be private. In lieu of flowers, contributions might be made to Hospice Austin or Conspirare Austin. Lew's daughters would like to express their deep gratitude to Jim Connolly for his friendship and support.