Robert S. "Bob" Hoffman

Lt. Colonel Robert S. Hoffman Lt. Colonel Robert S. Hoffman, 76, of Newtown Square, an aerospace engineer who helped design spy satellites during the Cold War, died Tuesday, June 29, at Bryn Mawr Hospital, surrounded by loved ones. Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Robert (or Bob as he like to be called), moved to Tucson, Arizona at age 13, where he graduated cum laude from the University of Arizona, majoring in physics and math. He was president of his fraternity, Pi Kappa Alpha, a member of Blue Key Honor Society and Cadet Commander of the Air Force ROTC. He met his wife of 52 years Susan (née Lee), at the University of Arizona. She survives, as do their two sons, Jonathan and wife Christy, Kyle and wife Cheri, their five grandchildren, Ryan, Olivia, Gavin, Caylen, and Malory and extended family, Debbie and Jack Dignan, Christopher Lee, Jennifer Lee, Prudence and John Ahl and Jonathan and Christy Lee . Bob began his career in the Air Force in 1969, following completion of his Masters Degree in Optical Science at the U of A. Bob was initially assigned to the Rome Air Development Center at Griffiss AFB, where he worked as a Project Engineer developing products that utilized computer engineering with photonics applied to deriving information from reconnaissance photography in retargeting for the conflict with Vietnam. He subsequently went to work for the National Reconnaissance Office designing American Intelligence Satellites. Bob worked on the Corona and Gambit Satellites, which are now on view at the National Museum of the US Air Force. Corona's success was an instrumental component that the US Military used in eliminating a nuclear threshold. While on active duty with the Air Force Bob and Suzy moved to California, where Bob received a Juris Doctorate degree from Loyola Law School and became a member of the California Bar Assn. Following graduation from Loyola, he worked for TRW in California and served as a Judge Advocate for the Air Force, serving at Andrews and Bolling AFB. He served 26 years in the Air Force. In 1985, he was recruited by General Electric to work on the Star Wars initiative and the family moved across the country to the Philadelphia region. Bob was medically retired in 1994 due to debilitating conditions associated with Multiple Sclerosis. Long active in Scouting, he served as an Assistant Scoutmaster, Cubmaster and District Leader. Bob was an Eagle Scout and extremely proud of his two sons, Jon and Kyle who both attained Eagle Scout Rank, as did his first grandson, Ryan. Despite the challenges of Multiple Sclerosis, Bob served his community. He was a member of Rotary International for 30 years. He served on the Newtown Square Planning Commission and was co-chair of the drive to build the Newtown Library. Bob was also on the board of Baker Industries for many years. A 30 year member of Aronimink Golf Club, he enjoyed volunteering at the various PGA tournaments sponsored by the club. Bob was an active member of St. Norbert's Church in Paoli, as well as a 4th Degree Knight of Columbus. Relatives & Friends are invited to his Viewing Friday Morning July 9th ; 10:00 A.M.– 10:45 A.M. followed by his Funeral Mass 11:00 A.M.(All In Church ) at the St. Norbert's Church 50 Leopard Rd. Paoli PA 19301. Inurnment will be at a later date at Arlington National Cemetery. Donations may be made to Baker Industries, 184 Pennsylvania, Malvern, PA 19355 (https://www.bakerindustries.org/support-us/donate/) or Bethesda Project, 1630 South Street, Philadelphia, PA 19146 (https://www.bethesdaproject.org/give) arr: www.danjolell.com