P.H. George Hoffman Dies

05 June 2003, 02:34

<Harry>

George completed his battle with cancer this morning at 1:15 am. He is in a better place, free of pain and suffering for which I am grateful but my heart is broken as I miss him so very much.

Thank all of you for standing with us in such gracious ways as we traveled through this long journey as George battled cancer. Your love and prayers meant so much to us. Truly George was loved and had the greatest friends this world has to offer.

Thanks,
Mary Hoffman

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

05 June 2003, 02:42

<Rusty>

In nautical circles that is a tradition of signaling the winning craft with pennants flying proudly in the wind. The message is "Well Done!"
We too send a "Well Done!" in honor of George Hoffman! Well done, in deed!

05 June 2003, 02:48

Badboyz

My condolences to the family. I enjoyed reading his works and his posts on these forums.

05 June 2003, 02:48

Slingster

My deepest condolences to his wife and family. I only had a brief encounter with him, but he was a gentleman and a gentle man of the first order.

05 June 2003, 02:54

ACRecurve

I didn't know Mr. Hoffman personally; however, we did correspond via email and this board a few times. He was always very polite and helpful. Hunters have lost a great friend.

05 June 2003, 03:08

cengel

Mrs. Hoffman, you have my deepest condolences and the prayers of the Engel family. May God be with you at this hour of your need.

Regards,

Christopher Engel

05 June 2003, 03:08

Zero Drift

It is a sad day indeed to lose such a strong voice for African hunting. Our condolences to his family.

05 June 2003, 03:14

Wendell Reich

Mims, My prayers go out to you, his family and all his friends.

I am glad his suffering is over. I am glad to have known him, although too briefly. I will remember our few meetings as very enjoyable.

Godspeed George.

05 June 2003, 03:16

Aspen Hill Adventures

My condolences to the Hoffman family. May George rest in peace in the neverland of red dust, big tuskers and long curly horns. I bet he's already bagged some big game where he is now.

05 June 2003, 03:17

urdubob

My deepest prayers for his family. I will light a candle for him this Sunday and pray that he spends the after life doing what he loves.

Respectfully,

Urdubob

05 June 2003, 03:31

GeorgeS

The hunting fraternity has lost one of its best ambassadors.

He will be missed.

George

05 June 2003, 03:41

HunterJim

My condolences to the family.

Rusty,

It is "Bravo Zulu" from the old Code of Signals that we used in the Navy, and BZ George indeed.

I first talked to George in '88, and I bought one of his autographed copies of his book in the last year. If you haven't read it yet, do so in memory of a great man.

jim dodd

05 June 2003, 03:52

Pete E

My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends at this time; a time of sorrow undoubtely but also a release from suffering in so many ways. We today have witnessed the passing of a hunting great from our midst into the realms of hunting legend and hopefully a better place. God rest Georges soul and may he find peace in his release from suffering.

[ 06-04-2003, 18:52: Message edited by: Pete E ]

05 June 2003, 03:56

Nickudu

In Tribute To George Hoffman:

http://www.villagephotos.com/pubbrowse.asp?selected=295417

"God be with you, Georgeï¿½ ï¿½ The ï¿½ARï¿½ Membership

[ 06-04-2003, 22:31: Message edited by: Nickudu ]

05 June 2003, 04:02

Mike Smith

Well done thou good and faithfull servant. Go with God. Mere words are never enough to express what everyone feels at times like these. My condolences to all.

05 June 2003, 04:10

John S

This world in general and the hunting world in particular is now a lesser place. My deepest sympathies go out to George's family and friends.

05 June 2003, 04:13

T.Carr

Two brief meetings with Mr. Hoffman made it clear he was a gentleman of the first order. He will be missed. I will pray for his family.

George, may every day be " a good day in lion country".

05 June 2003, 04:17

<Harry>

This is one of my favorite Geo. Hoffman stories.
We were hunting deer on my San Angelo, TX ranch over Thanksgiving years ago and I spotted several bucks under some Live Oak trees. I took an offhand shot at a broadside buck and somehow missed
The deer took off at warp speed and this time my second shot threw rocks all over the deer, my third shot was somewhere in the State of Texas.
I was not a happy camper as I could not figure how I missed that simple first shot.
A few mins. later I hear bang. I walk a third of a mile down the fence line and over in the next pasture is one very dead deer....my deer. I climb over my fence and get him all gutted and guess who comes up? My favorite little round man, George.
He shot this deer right up the you know what with Mary's 270 Remington...he said the rifle was Mary's but I noted he always had it at Thanksgiving.
I kidded him no end for being the noted P.H. George Hoffman. The man behind the famous 416 Hoffman cartridge. The man that just shot my deer right up the bum!
George looked am me and asked where he was supposed to shoot the deer? He said the only shots he ever got were those going or coming!
Now to add more insult to the matter...it dawned on me later that I furnished the ranch, missed the deer, gutted the deer, got none of the meat and neither George nor I got the antlers...they are in a gun shop in San Angelo that belongs to another friend of ours that was hunting with us.
George and I also had a favorite hill that we would scout deer from right after lunch. You could crack the windows on his Toyota pickup just a tad, recline the seats just a bit and......we never did seem to locate any deer from there...the breeze was cool, the sun was warm and there were no light leaks around our eyelids. [Smile]

05 June 2003, 04:25

Atkinson

We're gonna miss him Mims, but I will shoot HIS Buffalo this year in memory of a good friend...He wanted me to do that.

05 June 2003, 04:31

jeffeosso

George
Namasate!!!
May you find the Happy Hunting Grounds in the Summerlands... May your passing be easy

Your Friend
Jeffe

05 June 2003, 04:38

Will

My sympathies to Mrs. Hoffman and the Hoffman family. George had a career few of us could even dream about. May he rest in piece and be in good hunting country.

Bill Stewart

05 June 2003, 04:53

NitroX

My condolences to Mrs Hoffman and the Hoffman family. God bless George.

May he venture onto an endless safari under African stars.

05 June 2003, 05:01

05 June 2003, 05:02

<mikeh416Rigby>

Such a tragic loss, but now he's at rest in a much better place where all the Kudu are 60", the Buffalo 50" and all the lions look like they came from the MGM set.

05 June 2003, 05:03

Recono

Even those of us who never met him, but only read his book, know that he was a very special person.

[Frown]

05 June 2003, 05:21

bobc

Just last week I was visiting Mims and heard of George's declining condition. What a loss for the hunting community. I'm glad I had this board's exposure to his expertise and generosity. Only wish I'd had the time to visit with him in Dallas this winter. Bob

05 June 2003, 05:31

Canuck

quote:
Originally posted by Recono:
Even those of us who never met him, but only read his book, know that he was a very special person.

I feel the same way. He has touched more lives than he could have ever known.

My sincerest and deepest sympathies to his family and close friends.

The Happy Hunting Grounds will be a much better place with him there. Godspeed, George.

Canuck

05 June 2003, 05:35

David W

Go well, George. It was a privilege to talk hunting with you. Our prayers are with you and your family.

David

05 June 2003, 05:36

Grandpasez

Going to a special place,
With his name much known;

Freedom's Child is laid to rest,
Singing Freedoms Song.

05 June 2003, 05:52

mbogo375

Although I never had the pleasure of meeting George personally we corresponded about hunting, trophies, calibers, and things African in general. He loved hunting and Africa with a passion that is beyond the average person. I will remember him from our correspondence as a warm and open person who was willing to share his vast knowledge and experience as a Professional Hunter of the first order.

I thought that his inscription in my book, which I will include in part below, truly summed up the special bond that many of us feel for Africa. My thoughts and condolences go out to his family. May his journey be smooth and filled with endless days in the gamefields of the land that he loved so much.

Jim

[ 06-04-2003, 21:00: Message edited by: mbogo375 ]

05 June 2003, 05:54

Santala

My condolences to Mrs Hoffman and the Hoffman family. God bless George.

Even though some of us did not know him personally his words of wisdom were always a real asset to the forum.

Steve

05 June 2003, 05:54

MacD37

Though I was expecting it, still, I almost couldn't believe it when I recieved the E-mail from Mary this morning.

George Hoffmann, was "THE REAL THING"! There wasn't a selfish, or pretentious bone in his body. He is the reason I don't worry about MY hunts in the happy hunting ground, I'll have no trouble finding someone to back my play, as long as George is there.

My condolences to you Mary, and the family, and though we will miss George deeply, we know you are the ones who will miss him most, as it should be! [Frown]

R.I.P. old friend

05 June 2003, 05:57

<PostDriver>

It's hard to put into words my thoughts on his passing. George was a major inspiration as my first African trip grew near, and his counsel I still remember today.

Having met him at the Dallas convention and visiting with him there (when he wasn't running around bedeviling other exhibitors [Smile]

), he was so gracious taking the time to spend with a true novice. I looked up to George as a legend in our own time; a Selous we all had the opportunity to meet; and a fount of knowledge on the current scene.

When we first met he had just been diagnosed and would be beginning treatments shortly. I'll never forget his saying 'Let's plan on a hunt in the Moyowasi in a couple of years'. George, it's time for that hunt, I hope you enjoy it immensely.

05 June 2003, 06:00

smallfry

God bless you George Hoffman, and God bless your family.

05 June 2003, 06:08

MARK H. YOUNG

I never got to know George but I wish I had. My sincere condolences to the family. I'll miss his words on AR that were from experience that few of us will ever have.

05 June 2003, 07:08

<Paul Machmeier>

Only met George Hoffman personally in DSC a couple of years ago, had a chat, and had his book signed. A few class gentleman and a great hunter, someone to be admired.

Really, a wakeup call for all of us older guys, hunt while you can. Am recently retired, and am taking a two week african hunt with my son. Suddenly, this trip, while not easy on the finances, will be probably the smartest decision I have made in a while.

My sympathy to the Hoffman family.

pmm