Morris Gary Hoffman

Morris Gary Hoffman, age 78, of Gainesville, Virginia, passed away peacefully on June 10th, 2025.

He is survived by his loving wife of 50 years, Lynn; his brother Dean (Debbie); his sons Matthew, Evan (Sarah) and Josh (Maggie); and his beloved grandson, Arthur.

His story is the embodiment of the American Dream: his family came to America with nothing, yet he created a rich life full of humor and curiosity as well as a wonderful family.

Born Moritz Gershon Hoffmann on June 4th, 1947, in the Schlantensee Displaced Persons Camp in West Berlin, Germany. Morris was the son of Hershel Hoffman of Poland and Frieda Sirota of Kazakhstan - Holocaust survivors who emigrated to the United States in search of a better life after World War II. The family first settled in Indianapolis, Indiana and later moved to Brooklyn, New York.

Morris grew up in a small apartment in the notorious "Pink Houses" projects in East New York while his father worked at the original Nathan's in Coney Island. He graduated from Franklin K. Lane High School, Queens College, Fairfield University and Yeshiva University (where he obtained his doctorate in clinical psychology).

To his friends he was Mojo, but in his professional career, he was Dr. Hoffman, a gentle and curious psychologist with a focus on childhood development and later forensic psychology. His legacy will be the thousands of children and adults he counseled over his 50-year career in New York City, Westchester County, Washington, D.C., Fairfax County and Prince William County.

Morris first spotted Lynn, the love of his life, in September 1973 while registering for classes at Fairfield University. It was love at first sight and they were married in June 1975. The couple began their life together in Manhattan's Upper West Side before settling in Westchester.

Morris was a man of many passions. He loved history, museums, traveling, dogs, real estate, wine, the theater, magic, literature, New York City, collecting antiques, artwork, gadgets, oddities and other curios.

If you told Morris you were interested in a subject, he would go home, research it endlessly, return with a litany of follow-up questions and a thoughtful gift.

Morris had a special fascination with show business and celebrity. As a young boy, he would take the subway from East New York into Manhattan to attend live tapings of television shows, including the The Ed Sullivan Show and later, the first ever episode of Saturday Night Live, along with numerous other live shows and plays. If a notable person ever lived within a 50-mile radius of him, he would eternally refer to them as "his neighbor." He had countless run-ins with an eclectic mix of celebrities in New York City and beyond including Chevy Chase, Robert Duvall, Muhammad Ali, Allen Ginsberg, David Letterman, Ted Kennedy, Richie Havens and the Four Tops.

He was the life of every party: equal parts outrageous and kind. His sense of humor remained steady until the end. He could often be seen cruising around Northern Virginia in a convertible proudly emblazoned with "DR MOJO" vanity plates.

But above all, Morris cherished time with his family. He loved annual family vacations, holiday gatherings and hosting unforgettable parties with Lynn and their loving friends. In the final weeks of his life, when asked if he had any profound insights to share, he simply said "I just want to spend as much time as possible with my family."

He will be missed beyond measure.

A Celebration of Life will be held this fall.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society or the Smithsonian Institution, both causes close to his heart.