Howard S Hoffman

Howard was born on July 6th, 1943, at Mount Sinai Hospital in Cleveland to Morris H. and Harriet G. (nee Goldberg) Hoffman. He was a graduate of Shaker Heights High School and attended Kent State University. For 62 years, Howard was a member of I.B.E.W. Local Union #38.

Howard was a regular blood donor, giving over 30 gallons of blood in his lifetime. He donated to open-heart surgery at St. Vincent Hospital, and throughout the building trades as a member of Tobey’s Boys. In 2001, after the World Trade Center disaster, the Red Cross made a national call for blood. Even though Howard had given his regular donation on Monday, September 10, he returned on Friday, September 14th to donate a second pint at the headquarters building.

Howard belonged to Owatonna Lodge #62 for 11 years and was a member of Forest City Hebrew Benevolent Association. He held membership in F.O.P.A. Lodge #45 for 47 years. Howard was also a member of SELREC Civic Theater: performing in “Anything Goes” in 1984, and “The Sound of Music” in 1986. For 26 years, Howard held season tickets to the Cleveland Browns. He also enjoyed bowling in many leagues, including the Aliwise, Owatonna and I.B.E.W. 38 leagues. In 1977, he won a doubles tournament in Buffalo, NY; and in 1978, he won a singles tournament in Dayton, Ohio. Those tournaments featured I.B.E.W. members from all over the country.

Howard was a board member from 1979 and President of the JRC softball league for 15 years and was a 28-year member of the Cleveland Heights Umpires Association. He was inducted into the JRC Hall of Fame as an umpire in 2001. In 1978, Howard served as the home field announcer for The Cleveland Jaybirds pro-softball team. From 1997-2008, he was a member of the American Metal softball team, and participated in tournaments around the country, three of which he won. He was inducted into the Greater Cleveland Slo-Pitch wall of Fame, and honor for senior softball players.

Howard was the loving husband of 33 years to the late Louise (nee Bishko); beloved father of Michelle Herchick of Wimauma, Fla., Harland Hoffman of Boynton Beach; stepfather to Randyll Levine of Fairborn, Ohio, Darryll Levine of Lyndhurst, Ohio; Kevin Levine of Columbus, and Lisa Levine of Mayfield Heights; dear grandfather of Bethany Herchick, Eli Herchick, Rachael Levine, David Levine, Graydon Levine, Gavine Levine, Brittanny Van Horne, Nelson Van Horne, and the late Lila Levine; great-grandfather to Inara Eden and Zoë Harley Hollingshead, as well as Samuel Mayer Milligan.

Services will be held on Wednesday, December 3rd at 1 PM at Berkowitz-Kumin-Bookatz Memorial Chapel located at 1985 S. Taylor Road, Cleveland Heights, 44118. Interment will be at Mount Olive Cemetery located at 27855 Aurora Road, Solon, Ohio 44139. To view the service, please scroll down to the Services Section and click on “JOIN LIVESTREAM”.

Contributions in Howard’s memory are suggested to the charity of your choice.