James Ralph Hofmann

James R. Hofmann, 79, passed away peacefully at the Colonnades in Charlottesville, Virginia, on Sunday, September 18, 2022. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Janine of Charlottesville, VA; his son Scott (Erin) of Logan, UT; his daughter Karen (Ben) of Keswick, VA; and his grandchildren Joel, Noah, Megan, Hannah, John, and James. Jim is also survived by his brother Judson (Marilyn) of Salem, VA; sister-in-law Paulette (Bill) of Mt. Pleasant, WI; and his dear nieces and nephews all over the country. He is predeceased by his sister Jill, mother Lilyan, and father John (“Al”). Jim was born in Indianapolis, IN, and graduated with a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University. He was a very active member of his church families, especially at Knox Presbyterian Church in Naperville, Illinois, where he shared his good nature and humor as a fixture at youth mission and bicycling trips. Jim logged many miles on his bicycle and many hours behind his camera, and loved most to drive across the country, hiking and taking pictures in our national parks. His love for coffee and desserts cannot be overstated. In lieu of a memorial service, the family is asking for contributions to the Sierra Club and the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance funds to commemorate Jim’s deep appreciation of our nation’s wild places and his commitment to serving others through his faith. Donations can be made online at https://www.sierraclub.org/giving/commemorative-gifts and https://pda.pcusa.org/page/give/.