George Daniel Hoffman

b. 18 April 1915, d. 18 April 1999

George Daniel Hofman, 1915-1999
  • George Daniel Hoffman was born on 18 April 1915 in New York.
  • Christian Hoffman appeared in the US federal census of 1 January 1920 in Buffalo, Erie County, New York, at 756 Glenwood Avenue. Other members of the household included George Daniel Hoffman, Ruth Mary Hoffman, Esther Louise Hoffman, Christian Charles Hoffman, Edith Dorothy Hoffman and Carol Elizabeth Hoffman.
  • Christian Hoffman and Anna Maria Christina Borth appeared in the US federal census of 1 April 1930 in Buffalo, New York, at 756 Glenwood Avenue. Other members of the household included George Daniel Hoffman, Ruth Mary Hoffman, Esther Louise Hoffman, Christian Charles Hoffman, Edith Dorothy Hoffman and Carol Elizabeth Hoffman.
  • A pastel self-portrait executed while the artist was in his early 20s (George Daniel Hoffman Papers, University of South Carolina).
    George Daniel Hoffman, self-portrait
  • George Daniel Hoffman enlisted in the US Army as a private on 12 August 1942, in Buffalo, Erie County, New York.
  • He was a painter, sculptor, interior designer and vocalist, according to his obituary.
  • The following appeared on 24 July 1955 in the Buffalo Courier-Express: George Dan'l Hoffman's recent one-man art show and song recital at the Twentieth Century Club drew your Good Listener's attention to the exceptionally talented Hoffman family -- six sons and daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Christian Hoffman, 751 Glenwood Ave.
         Christian Hoffman Sr. made his start as a blacksmith, then, changing with the times, became the owner of a garage and repair shop for cars. Although he and his wife were limited in schooling, they encouraged their sons and daughters to develop their abilities through education.
         Their daughter, Ruth, studied home economics at Buffalo State Teachers College, from where she was graduated. She is dietitian at Seneca Vocational High School.
         The second daughter, Mrs. Alfred Schillke of Eggertsville, a graduate of the Buffalo School of Fine Arts, is a former teacher of art in local public schools. Lately, she conducted the art course in the Vacation Bible School of Ascension Lutheran Church, Snyder.
         Christian Hoffman Jr., a graduate of Oswego State Teachers College, is a member of the faculty of Burgard Vocational High School. He has taken graduate courses at the University of Buffalo. The third daughter, Mrs. Carl [E]yring of Arizona, channels her artistic talent in the field of dress designing.
         George Dan'l Hoffman of New York has sung in Carnegie Hall and painted portraits of many outstanding Americans. His study of art, begun at the Buffalo School of Fine Arts, was continued at the Parsons Art School and Cooper Union Institute of New York. Currently he is conducting summer art classes at his Snyder studio.
         Mrs. Henry J[uette] of Snyder, youngest member of the family, made an intensive study of music. She is a church choir soloist, piano teacher, and former president of the Piano Teachers' Forum of Buffalo.
         This family is an excellent example of the opportunities available to Americans possessing talent and the perseverance essential to its development.
  • During May 1956, Christ and Mate Hoffman celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary, and family members posed for a group photograph.
  • George Daniel Hoffman died on 18 April 1999 at age 84.
  • He was interred at Acacia Park Cemetery, North Tonawanda, Niagara County, New York.
  • The following appeared on 28 April 1999 in The Post and Courier: (Columbia, SC) A Memorial Service for George Dan'l Hoffman will be held at Ebenezer Lutheran Church, Columbia, SC, on Saturday, May 1, 1999 at 11 a.m. Special music by Dr. John Hofmann will begin at 10:30 a.m. Family visitation in the church parlor will follow the service. Mr. Hoffman died April 18, 1999.
         In lieu of flowers, it is suggested that memorials be made to the Ebenezer Organ Maintenance Fund, 1301 Richland Street, Columbia, SC 29201 or to the SC ETV Endowment Nature Scene Award Fund, 1029 Woodburn Road, Spartanburg, SC 29302.
         George Daniel Hoffman was born April 8, 1915, in Buffalo, New York. He attended the Buffalo Public School System, graduated from the Buffalo School of Fine Arts, and earned a degree from the State University at Buffalo in Art Education. He also studied at the Buffalo Art Institute, the Parsons School of Design in New York City, The Commercial Workshop in New York City, and with abstractionists Josef Albers and Emil Zadkin at Black Mountain College, NC.
         As a child, Mr. Hoffman possessed a "superb and rare" boy-soprano voice and had his own radio show. In 1952 he gave a concert in Carnegie Hall, singing works by Haydn, Brahms, Strauss, and other classical composers. At the same time, his art work was on exhibit in the Hall at Carnegie. Mr. Hoffman taught art in Schuylerville and Schenectady, NY, during which time he sang with the Schubert Club of Union College, under Elmer Tidmarsh, conductor. In addition to teaching, Mr. Hoffman designed theatre sets, illustrated a children's book, painted, did sculpture in several media, and did frequent interior design consultations.
         A great part of his military service in the Air Force was served at AACF headquarters at Asheville, NC. After his military service, he moved back to New York, where he painted many well-known people from the movie industry, theatre, opera, and the industrial world including: the Albert Warners (Warner Brothers), and Spyros Skouras (20th Century Fox) of the movie industry; D. Russell Feltmann, Industrialist; Harriet Annenberg Ames and Rita Allen, Broadway producers; Frances Greet, concert and opera singer; Mme. Peirre [sic] Gabard, wife of the French Consul to Montreal; and Lady Bernice Graham, decorated by Queen Elizabeth II. He was commissioned by Galarie St. Etienne to paint the official Portrait of Grandma Moses, which was exhibited on tour over a year by the Smithsonian Institution.
         In the late 1950s George Dan'l moved to Alabama, where his subjects included General John B. Medaris, former head of the Redstone Missile Program; Rex Morthland, president of the Bankers' Association of America, and Mayor J. Smitherman of Selma. As his reputation spread, so did the number of subjects and locations. In 1963, he moved to SC.
         The list of South Carolina notables painted by George Dan'l Hoffman includes: Joan Celest Singletary (his first SC subject); governors George Bell Timmerman, Gordon McLeod, and John C. West; Dr. Maceo Nance, president of SC State College in Orangeburg, SC; H. George Anderson, Bishop of ELCA; Bishop William Beckham, Upper Diocese of SC; Henry Cauthen of SC ETV; Admiral and Mrs. Croft Jennings; Judge John Grimball; the Clinch Belsers, Senator Hyman Rubin; and Dr. "Pat" Paterson, President of the University of South Carolina.
         Mr. Hoffman's appreciation of nature and the outdoors inspired many paintings of flowers and landscapes. His few small portrait-sculptures were among his favorite accomplishments. His love of nature also inspired him to establish a Nature Scene Award administered by the SC ETV Endowment of SC to be presented to school children and others whose projects involve preservation and appreciation of nature. On February 17, 1999, he presented checks to the representatives of four schools. In conjunction with these awards, he presented an exhibit of more than fifty examples of his life work in art and music.
          In 1979, Mr. Hoffman was commissioned to do a portfolio of pencil renderings of Ebenezer Lutheran Church, where he sang in the choir, and later served as Renovation Consultant and Preservation Consultant for the Austin pipe organ.
          His work as a portrait painter was still flourishing in 1991, when at the age of 76, he painted a posthumous portrait of George M. Lee, Jr., and did pencil drawings of Prof. C. Brian Honess.
         Galleries that handled his work in New York include the IBM Gallery, Steinway Hall, Galerie St. Etienna [sic], Hammer Gallery, The National Academy of Design, Newton Galleries, and the Carnegie. Exhibitions of his work have been held in Buffalo, NY; Clinton, Iowa; Columbia, SC; High Point, NC; and Waterloo, Iowa. His paintings hang in galleries and private collections in more than 18 states.
          George Dan'l Hoffman continued to sing as both a soloist on state, and in many area churches, as well as with the Mastersingers, and did special performances with Gene Forugson. He last performed as a soloist at Ebenezer Lutheran Church in May of 1998, at the age of 83. The first piece performed by Mr. Hoffman was Schubert's "Serenade," taught to him by an uncle, and sung in German. His last piece performed was "Danny Boy" as a tribute to his late father, performed at an Easter celebration on April 4, 1999.
          In 1984 The State newspaper said that George Dan'l Hoffman is "Truly the Renaissance Man -- there seems to be nothing he can't do!"
          George Dan'l Hoffman is survived by sisters: Esther H. Schillke, and Ruth Mary Hoffman. Surviving nieces and nephews are: Gretchen J. Carpenter, Katrina L. Wobschall, Peter Schillke, Dr. Paul H. Juette, Judith A. Hoffman, Christian Schillke, Joan L. Worthington, David C. Hoffman, Michael Eyring, Daniel Eyring and godson, Dr. Jay Ginther.
         Mr. Hoffman was predeceased by his father, Christian C. Hoffman, his mother, Anna Mary Borth Hoffman, sisters, Edith Eyring and Carol Juette, and a brother, Christian Hoffman.
          George Dan'l Hoffman is also survived by hundreds of people who loved and cherished him as a person, artist, musician, and friend.
  • The following appeared on 29 April 1999 in The Buffalo News: [Died] George Daniel Hoffman, April 18, 1999, of Columbia, SC, formerly of Buffalo, NY. Son of the late Christian C. Hoffman and Anna Mary (Borth) Hoffman; brother of Ester H. Schillke, Ruth Mary Hoffman and the late Edith Eyring, late Carol Juette and the late Christian Hoffman; uncle of Gretchen J. Carpenter, Katrina L. Wobschall, Peter Schillke, Dr. Paul H. Juette, Judith A. Hoffman, Christian Schillke, Joan L. Worthington, David C. Hoffman, Michael Eyring and Daniel Eyring; god-father of Dr. Jay Ginther; also survived by hundreds of people who loved and cherished him as a person, artist, musician and friend. A memorial service will be held at Ebenezer Lutheran Church, Columbia, SC on Saturday, May 1, 1999, at 11 AM. Special music by Dr. John Hofman will begin at 10:30 AM. Family visitiation in the church parlor will follow the service. Arrangements by the Dunbar Funeral Home, Columbia, SC. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Ebenezer Organ Maintenance Fund, 1301 Richland St., Columbia, SC 29201 or to the SCETV Endowment Nature Scene Award Fund, 1020 Woodburn Rd., Spartanburg, SC 29302. Mr. Hoffman was a veteran of the Air Force. He was also a well known painter, sculptor, interior designer and vocalist.
  • A single grave marker identifies the graves of George Daniel Hoffman and David Christian Hoffman.
    George Dan'l Hoffman and David Christian Hoffman, , Acacia Park Cemetery, North Tonawanda, Niagara County, New York
  • See the collection "George Daniel Hoffman Papers, 1915-1999," at South Caroliniana Library, University of South Carolina.
  • Last Edited: 18 Oct 2013