Donald Dean Hoffman

Age 88 of Wheat Ridge, Colorado and Surprise, Arizona, passed away peacefully in Surprise, AZ on December 23, 2011. A Celebration of Don's life will be held on Tuesday, January 17, 2011 at Lakewood Country Club in Lakewood, Colorado, after a private family service at Crown Hill's Tower of Memories.

Don was born in Loveland, Colorado on November 2, 1923 to Jacob and Margaret Hoffman. He was the fifth of six children. Don graduated from North High School in Denver. He briefly served in the US Army before being medically discharged. Don went to work for Central Bank and Trust Company as a mail runner in 1941. Over the next 47 years, he worked his way up to President, Chairman and CEO of the bank during which time he completed his Graduate Degree in Banking from The Stonier School of Banking at Rutgers University in New Jersey in 1959. Over the course of his career, he was Board Member of Visa USA and the Federal Reserve Bank in Kansas City.

Don was very instrumental to the growth of Lower Downtown Denver. His involvement as a board member of the Denver Urban Renewal Authority sparked new life into the LoDo area. In addition to his banking career, Don was active with many other community organizations serving as chairman of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, Mile High United Way and Lutheran Medical Center in Wheat Ridge. Donald was also the first Coloradan to receive the City of Hope National Humanitarian Award.

Don married Patricia Sanborn on November 19, 1949. She preceded him in death in 1993 after 44 years of marriage. Don spent his later years with his friend and companion, Charlene Byrnes.

Don will be remembered as a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and companion. His kindness, intelligence, business acumen and dry sense of humor were appreciated by all who knew him. He had a passion for fishing and golf and travelled to many parts of the world. He could never pass up a good game a gin rummy.

Donald is survived by a sister, Norma Banzhaf of Tucson, AZ, daughter, Kim Crawford (Darryl) of Littleton, CO, son, Kirk (Linda) Hoffman of Lakewood, CO, companion, Charlene Byrnes, Surprise, AZ and four grandchildren, Brett Crawford of Denver, Matt Hoffman of Seattle, WA, Beau Hoffman of Boulder and Garrett Crawford of Littleton.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Don's memory to Lutheran Medical Care Hospice Center.