Daniel Nathan Hoffenberg

1928 - 2025

Daniel Nathan Hoffenberg passed away peacefully at home on February 24, 2025, just shy of his 97th birthday. He lived a long and fulfilling life. Dan was born on April 20, 1928, in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, to a family of Jewish Hungarian immigrants. Eventually, he left home for Ohio State University, where he courageously defied his parents’ wishes to become an optometrist and instead earned a degree in architecture. During his time at Ohio State, Dan went on a blind date that he and his family later agreed “worked out pretty well.” That date led to his marriage to Floris Kuntz in 1951, beginning a journey of more than seven decades filled with love, partnership, and adventure. Together, they built a beautiful life, raising two children and enjoying the company of many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. After graduating from Ohio State, Dan was called to serve in the Korean War, arriving in the country on the very day the armistice was signed. He served in Korea for about nine months before beginning his journey back to the U.S. As his ship entered San Francisco Bay, he was captivated by the beauty of the morning light glistening on the Golden Gate Bridge. The moment left a lasting impression on him—so profound that he decided then and there to one day return to California and settle in the Bay Area. And so he did. In 1962, Dan and Flo loaded their two children, Amy and Mark, and the family belongings into the car and made the cross-country drive from Toledo, Ohio, to Northern California. There, Dan designed and built his family’s home. He also built his career, establishing himself as an accomplished architect and leaving his mark on the world with beautiful designs, including Temple Beth Ami in Santa Rosa. Dan delighted his family with his passion for architecture, often wandering through public spaces to closely examine the features of architectural significance on nearby buildings that caught his eye. He had distinct architectural preferences that his family would fondly remember, including a particular love for sliding interior doors, wooden dentils, and well-formed corners. Known as “Papa” to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Dan was a dedicated and loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend with a wonderful sense of humor. His memory will be cherished and preserved in the stories shared by those who loved him. Dan is survived by his beloved wife, Flo; children Amy (Don) and Mark (Janet); grandchildren Juliana, Vinny (Stefanie), Scott (Tiffany), Dana, Chelsea, Sam and Alex; and great-grandchildren Sonya, Dominic, Luciano, Reid, Mason, Portia, Hunter and Willa. Dan is preceded in death by his grandchildren, Max Hoffenberg and Ian MacNair. In memory of Dan, donations may be made to the Harris Fund, which supports Social Action programs at Congregation Shomrei Torah. A graveside service will take place at 3 p.m. on Friday, February 28th, at Santa Rosa Memorial Park, 1900 Franklin Ave, Shomrei Torah Section. Everyone who knew and cared for Dan is invited to attend. May his memory be a blessing.