A Tribute to Marc D. Hoffman

A Tribute to Marc D. Hoffman

Many of us make it through life. Only some define it.
News story posted in General on 22 February 2014| 36 comments
audience: National Publication | last updated: 25 February 2014
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Summary

This is a news story I never thought I would have to write. Marc Hoffman, my brother, Editor-in-Chief and co-founder of the Planned Giving Design Center, my business partner of thirty-one years and eight years my junior, passed away peacefully at his home in Midway, Utah on February 17th. His loving wife Tracy was by his side at all times to the point of exhaustion. It was just a little over five months ago that Marc was diagnosed with Neuroendocrine cancer and given the news that there was no known treatment and that he had only four to six months to live.

This is not news about planned giving. This is a tribute to a man who dedicated his life to understanding, teaching, and writing about all of the ways people can give through planned giving. As you will read, he was also a modern day renaissance man. He defined life.

By the time Marc was about age three I came to realize he had figured something out. He quickly became aware of just how far cutting up, having fun and a great smile could take a person in life. From the time of this photo in our kitchen everyone’s life would never be the same in the Hoffman household.

On through high school, baseball and many sports that caused our mom great angst. This is a little hill he climbed from the bottom to the top.

Immediately following high school he became one of the youngest licensed life insurance agents in the state of California at age eighteen.

From high school it was on to college and a degree in Finance & Property Management at California Polytechnic State University. While at Cal Poly he was the president of the ski club, started his own band playing in local clubs and worked as an EMT, assisting people in need.

His working life

Realizing the party was over and that he had to join the real world, he set out immediately in his career in planned giving. Starting in 1979 we worked together for a Los Angeles planned giving consulting firm assisting nonprofits by working with donors and their advisors. I was in the field meeting with donors and their advisors. He was in the back office cranking out illustrations and charitable deductions with a pad and calculator.

From there he went on to become one of the youngest planned giving officers as Director of Planned Giving at Hoag Memorial Hospital in Newport Beach, California. He co-founded PhilanthroTec with me in 1983. We worked with the Treasury as Marc read the tax code while I wrote computer code. He was the former Executive Vice President and COO of San Antonio Hospital Foundation in Upland, California, where he managed all foundation development programs; was a Senior Vice President with Lexington Capital Management, Inc., where he assisted in the development of the firm's charitable trust, foundation investment management, and administration divisions.

As for his contributions to the field he is a published author, has been a platform speaker at the then National Committee on Planned Giving and AFP National Conferences, and was a founding board member and past president of the Orange County and Inland Empire Planned Giving Roundtables. He was also a founding and faculty member of the American Institute for Philanthropic Studies' Certified Specialist in Planned Giving program at California State University Long Beach.

Our latest joint endeavor was the founding of the Planned Giving Design Center in 1998. From inception Marc has been its Editor-in-Chief providing news and content to educate all who had an interest in the field.

On to the Renaissance man

Marc never went at anything halfway. It was always full-bore.

Gourmet Chef

In his teens our mother was stricken with cancer. During her recovery Marc took over the household duties, which included the cooking. Not being satisfied with TV dinners and chicken pot pies he broke out the cookbooks and developed a lifelong passion for gourmet cooking. You never wanted to miss one of his incredible spreads.

Singer, Song Writer and Accomplished Guitarist 

Early on he learned to play the guitar. Many years ago we attended a hospital fundraiser in the San Fernando Valley outside Los Angeles where Marc played his guitar and sang to an audience of about three hundred. A man approached our table after dinner and asked Marc if he would be interested in an opportunity to go to Nashville. He thanked the man for the opportunity and told him that he became too nervous before he played and always wanted to throw up. The man said, “You’re not the only one son.” Marc then told the man that he really enjoyed his current profession in philanthropy and would have to pass. The man asked Marc to continue to consider his offer. Henry Mancini then turned and walked back to his friends.

Spontaneous

I never knew what would come out of his mouth next. What was the next big advanture.

"See ya, I'm going on a two week fishing trip with Brett down into Mexican waters." Where he caught a two-hundred and forty pound yellowfin tuna.

"See ya, Pat and I are headed to Puerta Vallarta. But I'll have my laptop with me so I can do the PGDC news."

"Catch you later. I'm headed to Sturgis on my Harley with some friends. I've got my laptop."

About seven years ago I called Marc to see what he was up to. "Marc, what are you up to?" I asked. "Right now about ninety-five miles an hour in my Bimmer." He replied. "What! Where are you headed? You're not doing ninety-five in LA." I exclaimed. "I'm driving up to Park City." He gleefully stated. "Who do you know up there?" Was my next question. His answer, "Nobody, I'm checking it out. I think I'm going to move up there. But don't worry, I've got my laptop."

Golfer

From his Facebook page, his caption reads "I have found the key to hitting the ball just as far as you get a little older. Play at higher altitude! — at Soldier Hollow Gold Course - Home of the 2012 USGA Publinks Championship and in my backyard!" At the top of his game his handicap was three.

Dog Lover

Marc had a love afair with his dog, Chip. When Chip passed away in 2010 Marc wrote, "In memory of my beloved Jack Russell "Terrorist" Chip who went to doggy heaven yesterday at the ripe old age of 16. There will never be another like him. He will be so missed. He would dive to the bottom of our 8.5 ft pool to fetch his kong toy and would stay down there until he found it!"

Chip also rode his Harley. Marc was along for the ride.

Ski Instructor

Marc loved to ski. He was involved in ski patrol wherever he lived. Combined with his EMT experience he safely brought many injured skiers down the mountain. For the last seven years he was a ski instructor at Park City Mountain Resort. In 2013 he was voted by the community as the number one instructor on the mountain.

"Let the skiing begin!!!!!!"

...and it did.

He would call me and talk about the joy on the faces of the children who had accomplished so much in a day through his instruction. His love and gift was teaching children.

Photographer

A photographer. Loving to take photos of anything worthy of the memory. His favorite model, his wife Tracy.

Stalking wildlife near his home.

The end result his efforts of the stalk.

Fisherman

Wherever there was water, fresh or salt, Marc was either in it or on top of it in a boat with a rod in his hand.

"A nice toady boy Strawberry rainbow. They call them red trout here in Utah because you could mistake the filet for a red salmon. Very tasty! — at Strawberry Reservoir."

...and for the little ones. He always let them go to grow. "Doin' what i do! Yes, I let him go to grow up!"

Pilot and Humanitarian

Marc flew right seat with his friend Pat to fly twenty-five missions in three days into the country's ravaged backcountry. "Just got back from Haiti where we delivered over 35,000 lbs. of food and flew doctors in and out of remote areas of the country. They are a kind people who will need our help for a long time to come." 

Artist

Marc sent me a text a few months ago and simply said. "Hey, look at my painting." Using a grove of aspens close to home as his inspiration. I said "You've never painted anything in your life other than in kindergarden. Where did you learn this?" "YouTube." He said. Several people have wanted to buy it. It's just the way he was.

Loving Husband

Marc and Tracy were married October 12, 2013. In the short two and a half years Marc and Tracy knew each other Tracy told me they never said a single cross word to the other. 

Brother

Like all brothers, there is love, there is pride in their accomplishments and there are the times you want to smack 'em upside the head. It was at about this time that Marc decided to see how long my pet hampster could hang on as Marc turned up the speed on our dad's turntable. My hope for all is that their lives have been as enriched as my relationship with Marc.

Modern Day Renaissance Man

Marc's quote. "The two most interesting men in the world!"

Many of us make it through life. My younger brother defined it. He will be missed by the many whose lives he touched. I know that he would want us all to live our lives to the fullest.

For information on service arrangements click here. Tell us a little something about this incredible spirit on the guest book at the bottom of his obituary.

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