Conventional obituaries are simply too impersonal for Glenn’s memory. His life and legacy are way too rich for column-inches in newsprint.
He deserves a “Glenn-appropriate” Tribute!
So we’ll follow Glenn’s respectful disregard for convention and take an unusual path — a Living Memorial website. Here his friends and family can see how truly phenomenal he was— how talented, respected, admired, and loved! His memory can then be honored and preserved the way he lived…through words AND pictures.
We hope this makes you remember and smile as much as we did creating it.
~ Karen, his best friend, partner & wife.Without hesitation, Glenn can be called a true, modern-day “Renaissance Man”
“A person with genuine competence in and understanding of multiple fields, all of which complement one another to make him a more talented and productive person.”
Rare today. That’s why it’s been so sad to share that he’s left us – at least here on earth. He was one of the most remarkable, loving “Renaissance Men” ever.
But maybe this visual celebration of the things most important to his own heart and soul— his people, his creativity and his love of travel — will keep him alive in our hearts in a new way.
From his prestigious Pratt Institute graduation, to accolades and awards at Madison Avenue’s renowned Ogilvy & Mather Advertising, his creativity and talent knew no bounds.
His fierce independence and intolerance for limitations led him to found his own successful agency, GW Hoffman Marketing, in Darien CT. He and the agency brought awarding-winning business results to some of the biggest brands we all know and love — a realllly long list. (One he always challenged me to remember when asked, “So, did you work on anything famous?”) He was rightfully proud. So we honor him here.
People loved working alongside him as both his clients and as his business partners, seeing his brilliance shine and learning from it. Some of us are still learning from him.
Through it all, Glenn gave careers, camaraderie, and 35 years of fun to dozens of people. He was undeniably one of a kind.
He was as adept with a sketch artist’s charcoal pencil as a delicate watercolor brush; a director’s script or photographer’s lens; a sculptor’s knife or homeowner’s hammer and nails. But you’d never know it, because he was as humble and self-effacing as he was talented.
There was nothing this man couldn’t do when he put his mind to it. Whether portraits, paintings, photos or even houses (especially houses!), Glenn created beauty from nothing wherever he looked. And he did so by challenging convention, thinking differently, and being true to his own unique vision. Simply humble BRILLIANCE!
Glenn traveled the world with incredible joie de vivre and gave once-in-a-lifetime experiences to his family to cherish forever. From our treasured France to his beloved Egypt, adventures spanned the US coast to coast, Europe, the Caribbean, and fantastic ports of call in the South Pacific, Asia, Central America, South America, and Africa. He left us with only Tibet, Machu Picchu, and the Galapagos on his “Bucket List!”
So many memories, for so many of us. Travel was a passion he let us all experience through his talented eyes. Because OH, his photos!
He loved his great big blended family to the core, and left us all with a hole in our hearts — his son Glenn Hoffman II (Patricia), daughter Allison Ball (Geoff), granddaughters Samantha Ball, Anna Hoffman, Courtney Ball, and grandson Ryan Hoffman; his brother Cliff Hoffman (Nancy), nieces Nancy Brooke Hoffman and Jillian Scheschuk, and nephews Cliff Hoffman Jr. (Rachael), Brian Hoffman (Sara), Dan Scheschuk (Sandy), and Joe Scheschuk (Danielle). And so, so sadly, he left me, too, his wife, Karen… but not completely, as I will always carry his spirit and zest for life within me.
He also made room in his heart for the many sisters- and brothers-in law, on all sides of his family plus a bevy of grandnieces — with a heart that was as big as his infectious smile.
I believe that his parents could never have realized at the time, the gift they gave to the world on October 5, 1946. Because from his beginnings in Flushing Queens, this man took on the world… and won!
Little publicized, but after more than 3 years, Glenn had triumphed as a “medical miracle” from a traumatic brain injury in 2020. With love and hard work, we fought together doggedly to achieve a much celebrated 90% recovery, to live an increasingly fun, full, happy life! Heartfelt gratitude to the dozens of doctors, nurses and techs who shepherded us along the way— most notably the phenomenal miracle workers at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Chicago. Extraordinary care!
But on Christmas Day, 2023, Glenn had finally grown deservedly tired. He went back home, welcomed with open arms by his beloved parents, Jean & Cliff, and mine, Pat & Bernie, who just adored him. He was also, I’m certain, immediately encircled with love & laughter, by (way too many , too soon) treasured childhood friends who predeceased him.
He was at our home on Hilton Head Island, SC surrounded by his immediate family, and at genuine, well-deserved peace.
Glenn’s absence will have an impact on the life of anyone he knew. Of that, I’m sure. None greater than mine. Or his children’s.
He gave us all so many moments of laughter and smiles, jokes, tales, and memories to tide us over for a very long time. Just not long enough.
So please recall one of those favorite memories and toast this force of nature! Remember him. Miss him. And wish him an eternity of peace and happiness. He earned it.
Glenn, we love you with all of our hearts.
“Can’t wait to see you again.”
In lieu of flowers or other remembrances, donations may be made to The Glenn W. Hoffman Innovation & Creativity Scholarship, an award being established by his family to carry on Glenn’s legacy of out-of-the box, convention-busting creativity. It will be given to a deserving Darien (CT) High School senior, pursuing a BFA degree to help realize Glenn’s same dream of a career in the visual arts.
The scholarship will be a part of the Darien Community Association’s “Scholarship 2024 Campaign” – while donations can easily be made online, please specify “IN HONOR OF GLENN HOFFMAN” to ensure that the gift is appropriately acknowledged.
Go To ScholarshipWithout hesitation, Glenn can be called a true, modern-day “Renaissance Man”
“A person with genuine competence in and understanding of multiple fields, all of which complement one another to make him a more talented and productive person.”
Rare today. That’s why it’s been so sad to share that he’s left us – at least here on earth. He was one of the most remarkable, loving “Renaissance Men” ever.
But maybe this visual celebration of the things most important to his own heart and soul— his people, his creativity and his love of travel — will keep him alive in our hearts in a new way.
From his prestigious Pratt Institute graduation, to accolades and awards at Madison Avenue’s renowned Ogilvy & Mather Advertising, his creativity and talent knew no bounds.
His fierce independence and intolerance for limitations led him to found his own successful agency, GW Hoffman Marketing, in Darien CT. He and the agency brought awarding-winning business results to some of the biggest brands we all know and love — a realllly long list. (One he always challenged me to remember when asked, “So, did you work on anything famous?”) He was rightfully proud. So we honor him here.
People loved working alongside him as both his clients and as his business partners, seeing his brilliance shine and learning from it. Some of us are still learning from him.
Through it all, Glenn gave careers, camaraderie, and 35 years of fun to dozens of people. He was undeniably one of a kind.
He was as adept with a sketch artist’s charcoal pencil as a delicate watercolor brush; a director’s script or photographer’s lens; a sculptor’s knife or homeowner’s hammer and nails. But you’d never know it, because he was as humble and self-effacing as he was talented.
There was nothing this man couldn’t do when he put his mind to it. Whether portraits, paintings, photos or even houses (especially houses!), Glenn created beauty from nothing wherever he looked. And he did so by challenging convention, thinking differently, and being true to his own unique vision. Simply humble BRILLIANCE!
Glenn traveled the world with incredible joie de vivre and gave once-in-a-lifetime experiences to his family to cherish forever. From our treasured France to his beloved Egypt, adventures spanned the US coast to coast, Europe, the Caribbean, and fantastic ports of call in the South Pacific, Asia, Central America, South America, and Africa. He left us with only Tibet, Machu Picchu, and the Galapagos on his “Bucket List!”
So many memories, for so many of us. Travel was a passion he let us all experience through his talented eyes. Because OH, his photos!
He loved his great big blended family to the core, and left us all with a hole in our hearts — his son Glenn Hoffman II (Patricia), daughter Allison Ball (Geoff), granddaughters Samantha Ball, Anna Hoffman, Courtney Ball, and grandson Ryan Hoffman; his brother Cliff Hoffman (Nancy), nieces Nancy Brooke Hoffman and Jillian Scheschuk, and nephews Cliff Hoffman Jr. (Rachael), Brian Hoffman (Sara), Dan Scheschuk (Sandy), and Joe Scheschuk (Danielle). And so, so sadly, he left me, too, his wife, Karen… but not completely, as I will always carry his spirit and zest for life within me.
He also made room in his heart for the many sisters- and brothers-in law, on all sides of his family plus a bevy of grandnieces — with a heart that was as big as his infectious smile.
I believe that his parents could never have realized at the time, the gift they gave to the world on October 5, 1946. Because from his beginnings in Flushing Queens, this man took on the world… and won!
Little publicized, but after more than 3 years, Glenn had triumphed as a “medical miracle” from a traumatic brain injury in 2020. With love and hard work, we fought together doggedly to achieve a much celebrated 90% recovery, to live an increasingly fun, full, happy life! Heartfelt gratitude to the dozens of doctors, nurses and techs who shepherded us along the way— most notably the phenomenal miracle workers at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Chicago. Extraordinary care!
But on Christmas Day, 2023, Glenn had finally grown deservedly tired. He went back home, welcomed with open arms by his beloved parents, Jean & Cliff, and mine, Pat & Bernie, who just adored him. He was also, I’m certain, immediately encircled with love & laughter, by (way too many , too soon) treasured childhood friends who predeceased him.
He was at our home on Hilton Head Island, SC surrounded by his immediate family, and at genuine, well-deserved peace.
Glenn’s absence will have an impact on the life of anyone he knew. Of that, I’m sure. None greater than mine. Or his children’s.
He gave us all so many moments of laughter and smiles, jokes, tales, and memories to tide us over for a very long time. Just not long enough.
So please recall one of those favorite memories and toast this force of nature! Remember him. Miss him. And wish him an eternity of peace and happiness. He earned it.
Glenn, we love you with all of our hearts.
“Can’t wait to see you again.”
In lieu of flowers or other remembrances, donations may be made to The Glenn W. Hoffman Innovation & Creativity Scholarship, an award being established by his family to carry on Glenn’s legacy of out-of-the box, convention-busting creativity. It will be given to a deserving Darien (CT) High School senior, pursuing a BFA degree to help realize Glenn’s same dream of a career in the visual arts.
The scholarship will be a part of the Darien Community Association’s “Scholarship 2024 Campaign” – while donations can easily be made online, please specify “IN HONOR OF GLENN HOFFMAN” to ensure that the gift is appropriately acknowledged.
Go To Scholarship