Dr. Gerald “Jerry” Franklin Hoffman, who practiced dentistry in Reisterstown for a half-century, passed away on Monday, Aug. 25.
The Pikesville resident and native of New Haven, Connecticut, was 93.
Hoffman was a 1958 graduate of the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery, which is now the University of Maryland School of Dentistry. He also worked as a general dentist for Baltimore County Public Schools.
“He was known for his warm smile and calming presence, and made each person who sat in his chair feel comfortable and valued,” his family wrote on the website of Sol Levinson & Bros. “He was blessed with an exceptional loving staff throughout his years in dentistry. When he sold his practice, the new staff welcomed him warmly, ensuring he still felt at home in the office he had built with such care.”
In addition to his dental practice, Hoffman was an avid bicyclist who often rode to and from his workplace.
He also was an accomplished and award-winning artist.
“Jerry’s hobby of painting brought him peace and fulfillment,” posted his family. “After painting, he developed the love of working on needlepoint and crewel, often spending evenings carefully stitching patterns that later became treasured gifts for family and friends, as well as winners at the Maryland State Fair for many years.
“He proudly displayed many of his creations at his office for everyone to see. Later in life when he moved to [Mount Washington’s] Springwell Senior Living, he proudly displayed them in his apartment on every wall.”
Above all else, Hoffman, who belonged to Pikesville’s Chizuk Amuno Congregation, was highly committed to the wellbeing of his family, friends and community.
“Jerry will be fondly remembered for his dedication, kindness, unwavering integrity, and his love of family,” his family wrote.
Hoffman is survived by his daughters, Ray Ellen (Doug) Fisher and Wendy C. (Scott) Cohen; his brother, Donald H. (Sandra) Hoffman; and his grandchildren, Evan Fisher, Chad Fisher and Max Schnitzer.
Hoffman was predeceased by his wife of 62 years, Marcia Greenberg Hoffman, and his parents, Ida and Benjamin Hoffman.
Services will be held Thursday, Aug. 28, at 1 p.m. at Sol Levinson’s Chapel, 8900 Reisterstown Road in Pikesville. Interment will be at Arlington Chizuk Amuno Cemetery, 4300 N. Rogers Avenue.
Contributions in his memory may be sent to Chizuk Amuno Morning Minyan Fund, 8100 Stevenson Road, Pikesville, Maryland 21208 or Stella Maris Hospice, 2300 Dulaney Valley Road, Timonium, Maryland 21093
The family will be in mourning on Thursday from 3:30-5:30 p.m. at The Gourmet Girls, 3713 Old Court Road in Pikesville. Services will be held there on Thursday at 7:30 p.m.
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