Michael A. Hoffman

1927 - 2021

CLIFTON SPRINGS/PHELPS - Michael A. Hoffman, 94, passed away peacefully on Friday (August 6, 2021) at Rochester General Hospital after a brief illness.

Friends and family may call from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday (August 11) at the R. A. Patrick Funeral Home, 26 West Main St. Clifton Springs. A memorial service will follow at the funeral home.

Burial, with military honors, will be at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday (August 12) in Riverview Cemetery, County Rd. 25, Phelps.

The family requests that any memorial donations be made to the Clifton Springs Hospital, 2 Coulter Road, Clifton Springs, NY 14432.

Michael was born July 1, 1927 in Schenectady, N.Y. the son of John and Helena (Blau) Hoffman. One of six children, he graduated from Duanesburg High School. He served in the US Navy during World War II and the Korean Conflict. He attended Boot Camp at Sampson Military Training Base in Romulus, with advanced training at Farragut Naval Base in Idaho. During the course of his military service he was a Hospital Corpsman, a TB patient in the Sampson Hospital, and attended Sampson College. In 1955 he graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in Physical Therapy (PT). He was employed for 40 years at Clifton Springs Hospital and Sanitarium in the Physical Therapy Department. Following his retirement from Clifton, he worked per diem as a PT at Wayne County Nursing Home. Mr. Hoffman invented rehabilitation equipment for the geriatric and handicapped, some of which were patented.

In 2005 he opened a physical therapy clinic in Phelps for the treatment of stroke and traumatic brain injury. He worked with tireless vigor, enthusiasm and optimism, coaching his patients through the rigors of gradual recovery, using the equipment he designed and his unique methods. He operated the clinic without charge for 16 years, up to the time of his death.

Social causes he supported include the American Civil Liberties Union, Amnesty International, Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital, and local organizations.

For over two decades his beloved pastime was owning and training thoroughbred horses. One of them, Prime Example, for several years held the track record at Finger Lakes Race Course. Michael traveled regularly, visiting upward of 75 countries. One journey took him around the world in five months. An avid long distance runner, he competed locally as well as in the Boston Marathon and other national and international marathons. He was devoted to the theater and attended productions in Manhattan, at Cornell University, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, the Rochester Theater, Stratford in Canada, and Niagara on the Lake.

He is survived by his sons Michael (Betty Tracey) Hoffman of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho and Charles (Teri Moldenhauer) Rumsey of Rochester, N.Y.; daughter, Christine Hoffman (George Fairfax) of Geneva; nine grandchildren Deva Hoffman, Michael A. Hoffman III, Christopher (Kahlin) Hoffman, Mary C. Hoffman, Josiah Hoffman and Matthew Hoffman, all of Idaho, Andrew J. Hoffman of Calif., Gerard Hoffman of Wash., and Betsy Anne Hoffman of Ore.; step-granddaughter, Jeselle Hadley (Adam) Bacon of Mich.; seven great-grandchildren; beloved nephews Jonathan Miller of Schenectady, Terry (Linda) Miller of Felton, Del. Larry (Nancy) LaRocque of Whitefish, Mont., Christopher P. (Ginger) Hoffman and Timothy Hoffman of Arlington, Texas, and David Hoffman of Tenn.; nieces Gail Bell and Nancy Hayner of Kalamazoo, Mich., Michele Gilpin, of Three Rivers, Mich., Dawn Johnson and Jackie Hernandez of Tenn.; as well as several cousins, great-nieces and great-nephews.

Michael was predeceased by his parents; and siblings Joseph (June) Hoffman of Arlington, Texas, Mary E. Hoffman of Albany, N.Y., Anne Hoffman Miller of Schenectady, N.Y., David (Jean) Hoffman of Clarksville, Tenn., and Nancy Hoffman (Richard) Gonzalez of Albany, N.Y.

Arrangements by the R.A. Patrick Funeral Home, Clifton Springs. www.rapatrickfuneralhome.net