Robert J. Hoffman

Robert J. Hoffman, 88, of Cambridge passed away on Friday, April 28, 2017, from post-operative complications. A beloved husband, father, grandfather, and uncle, he was a respected Boston attorney and active member of the Reform Jewish community.The son of the late Harry and Lauretta Hoffman, he is survived by his devoted wife of 44 years, Phyllis Elhady Hoffman, his son Daniel Hoffman and his wife Kim of McLean, VA; his daughter Elizabeth Hoffman and her husband Eric Emerson of Washington, DC; his grandchildren, Jerron and Nathan Hoffman and Olivia and Aidan Emerson. Survived by his sister Arlene Hecht of Chestnut Hill, he was predeceased by his sister Irma Etscovitz and his brothers-in-law Dr. Sanford D. Hecht and Dr. Eli Etscovitz. His nieces and nephews include Larry Etscovitz, Jacob Esher, Diane Dolin, Nathaniel and Susan Hecht.

Born and raised in Newton, he was a graduate of Harvard College (1951) and the Harvard Law School (1954). Upon his admission to the bar in 1954, he joined the law firm of Hoffman and Hoffman founded by his father and uncle in 1920. From 1955 to 1958, he served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts, thereafter returning to private practice and remaining with the family firm concentrating on real estate law for 50 years until his retirement in 2007. Mr. Hoffman served on the Massachusetts Real Estate Bar (formerly the MCA ) Board of Directors for 20 years,was Vice-President (1985), President (1986), Chair of the Ethics Committee (1987-1996), and received the Johnson Award in 2000, the Association’s highest honor recognizing significant and lifelong contributions to the Real Estate Bar. He was a member of the Executive Committee of the Massachusetts Association of Bank Counsel (1978-1996) and a recipient of their Leadership Award. He was also a member of the Boston Bar Association, the MCA Abstract Club and the Mass Bar Foundation.

Mr. Hoffman served as an instructor of law at Babson College and as an adjunct professor of law at Suffolk University School of Law. In addition to his professional career, Mr. Hoffman was active for over 50 years in the Movement for Reform Judaism. He is an Honorary Trustee of Temple Israel of Boston

after serving as President of the Congregation (1991-1993) and previously as a Vice-President and Chair of the Social Action Committee. Formerly the Regional Director of the New England Federation of Temple Youth, Mr. Hoffman served on the Regional Board of the Northeast Council of the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ), the National Board of the URJ and its Commission on Social Action and chaired the URJ National Committee which produced a guidebook for congregations on gay and lesbian inclusion.

Mr. Hoffman was admired, respected and deeply loved by associates, family and friends. He lived his life fully with gratitude for his blessings, with a passionate

devotion to his family, to the practice of law and to Reform Judaism. The integration of these three pillars was guided by a life-long commitment to humanist values. Services at Temple Israel, 477 Longwood Ave., Boston (Parking on the Riverway) on Tuesday, May 2 at 11AM. Memorial observance will be at the Hoffman residence Tuesday and Wednesday evenings from 7-9PM. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research www.michaeljfox.org and to the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism www.rac.org.