Anthony John Hoffman
March 04, 1956 - July 11, 2004
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Anthony John Hoffman
March 04, 1956 - July 11, 2004
Obituary
Anthony J. Hoffman, III passed away suddenly due to heart failure on Sunday, July 11, 2004 at a favorite beach near his home in Mission Viejo, California. AJ was a world renowned expert on antique locks and the history of interchangeable core cylinders and key systems. Fluent in six languages, AJ was also an accomplished linguist and musician, singing tenor and providing pronunciation guidance for Pacific Chorale, one of America’s most respected and accomplished professional choruses. He is survived by his wife Vivian.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM, Sunday, July 18th, 2004 at:
O?Connor Mortuary
25301 Alicia Pkwy
Laguna Hills, CA
Tel: 949-581-4300
A reception will follow.
There will also be a memorial service at the Associated Locksmiths of America ALOA Convention the following week.
The funeral and memorial will be a causal gathering to create a mosaic of memories of AJ’s life. If you have a memory that you would like to be part of the ceremony and cannot attend, feel free to send it via email to vivhoffman@aol.com or use the guest register at www.XAA1.com
In lieu of flowers, Vivian would like to establish a scholarship fund to pass on AJ’s passion for locks and his love of learning to the next generation. Donations can be sent to
ALOA Scholarship Foundation
AJ Hoffman Memorial Education Fund
3003 Live Oak Street
Dallas, TX 75204
If you are using a check, please make it payable to the ALOA Scholarship Fund and add a memo on the check indicating that it is for the AJ Hoffman CML Memorial Education Fund. Information about the fund will be available in ALOA’s keynotes magazine.
38 responses to Anthony John Hoffman
Lloyd Seliber says:
July 13, 2004
I remember when I first met AJ. It was April of 1988 at a Kaba Gemini class in Oakland, CA. I think it was on a Saturday. I had just started working at Schlage Lock, and had signed up for the class months earlier. I really wanted to take the Kaba cylinder apart, but I was afraid the instructor, who I didn’t know at all, would not want me in the class. I came up to him and told him that I now worked for another lock company and I would understand if he wanted me to leave. He asked me what I did for Schlage and I said “I work in the master key department.”
AJ beamed me a great big smile.
David Lowell, CML,CMST says:
July 14, 2004
The locksmith industry has lost a great historian, teacher, writer, mentor and friend. We will miss you AJ.
Dr. Jackie F. Woldering says:
July 14, 2004
A.J. and I met in 1980 when he worked at Masco Distributing Company in Cleveland, Ohio. He was the best man at our wedding, and we had similar senses of humor, as well as common interests in linguistics, foreign languages, choral music, locks, and computers. We always spent time together at various lock collecting shows and corresponded via frequent telephone calls and email during the rest of the year. Although he was very busy during the last few years, he always made time for us to converse or to share a humorous story. My entire family grew up knowing him and sharing so many wonderful times, and we will all miss him dearly. Our thoughts and prayers are with Vivian for comfort and safety in the difficult times that lie ahead, and for A.J.’s spirit to be at peace. Jackie, Mary, Ruth and Thomas
Greg Brandt says:
July 14, 2004
I occasionally search Ebay for various items of interest, and a few years ago I was simply searhing for “locks.” I stumbled across a picture of some sort of rim bit key lock and a somewhat unsual key. The seller had it listed as “French jail lock with original key.”
After the initial listing, the seller added some additional information supplied by another to the desctiption as Ebay will allow one to do. Not remembering exactly, but it was a very concise and courteous statement which read very close to the following:
“Your lock is not for a jail rather a door, but it is indeed French. The manufacturer is Deny, however the key is not an original. I thought you might like to add this information to your aution. You will find very few in this country who are familliar with these locks. A.J.”
The seller went on to thank the mysterious person who provided the information.
I do not know how some can know and accomplish so much.
Jon Payne says:
July 14, 2004
My fondest memory is following an ALOA board meeting in Dallas many years ago. We were eating in a small Mexican place and telling jokes and making puns. I laughed so hard all evening that my face muscles actually hurt the next day. There are many more memories, all of them wonderful. He was an excellent man, a skilled teacher, an evangelist for his industry, and gifted with a brilliant mind.
I suggest at ALOA we all have chocolate cake in honor of his memory!