Walter William Hoffman

HOFFMAN, Walter William Died November 11, 2008, at the age of 86. He was born to Edith May Hobson Hoffman and Walter Henry Hoffman on his mother's birthday, August 17, 1922, in Oxnard, California, and was raised on Rancho Casitas, where his parents bred thoroughbreds, including Crystal Pennant. He attended St. Catherine's Academy, Thacher School, Villanova and USC. He served as Communications, Navigation and Executive Officer aboard the destroyer USS Buchanan, from Guadalcanal to Tokyo and was Officer of the Deck the day the Buchanan delivered McArthur to the signing of Japan's surrender aboard the USS Missouri. After the war he returned to marry the love of his life, the late Sheila Louise Bergin. They settled in Ventura County where he began his career in farming, animal husbandry and petroleum operations. In 1947, he built and operated the Ventura Airpark and in 1956 he formed the land management firm, Hoffman, Vance and Worthington, with the late partners Oather Vance and William Worthington. The firm continues to provide agricultural, commercial and appraisal services to clients. He served on multiple boards, including the Bank of A. Levy, Santa Anita Consolidated, American Automobile Association, Livingston Memorial Foundation, St. John's Seminary and Fales Committee at the U.S. Naval Academy. He was a past chairman of the board of the Automobile Club of Southern California and was a past president of the Ventura Pacific Company, Crestview Water Company and the Oceanographic Associates at USC. He was a past Commodore of the Transpacific Yacht Club and a founder of the Museum of Ventura County. Mr. Hoffman was the consummate gentleman and a Renaissance man. He skippered and navigated boats in the Transpac Race, the Mazatlan Race and the Bermuda Race. He held a commercial pilot's license, was a licensed amateur radio operator, advanced class and he played the violin and the accordion. As a young man in high school he traveled around the world with his grandmother, an experience which enriched his life forever. What mattered most to him was his faith and his family. Pope John XXIII knighted him with the Order of St. Gregory, Knight Commander. He is survived by his two daughters, Katherine Russell (the late John) and Carol Hambleton (Rick), seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Mission San Buenaventura, 211 East Main Street, Ventura, on Wednesday, November 19, 2008 at 11 o'clock. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory to Livingston Memorial VNA and Hospice, 1996 Eastman Avenue, Ventura, CA 93003, Mission San Buenaventura or the Museum of Ventura County, 56 E. Main Street, Ventura, CA 93001 would be appreciated.