This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Death Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/JW.2ADE/8338 Message Board Post: News Review newspaper Ridgecrest CA Kern County June 1, 2005 Front Page HOFFMAN LOSES FIGHT WITH BLOOD DISORDER Family and friends of Rick Hoffman are aking plans to bid him a last farewell. The beloved police officer, youth minister and teacher died after losing his battle with a rare blood disorder late Thursday night at City of Hope National Medical Center in Duarte. Rick was born Richard Andrew Hoffman to parents Rev. Robert and Mary Ann Hoffman on June 12, 1969 in New Rochelle, N.Y. "Rick's life of 35 years was full of love, caring, giving and concern for other," wrote his mother in a prepared statement. "He brought many people to know and love Jesus as their personal Savior and Lord. He touched the hearts and lives of everyone he came in contact with." Throughout his life, Rick was a person who lived and grew in Christian faith. He attended Lutheran grade schools and graduated as valedictorian of his junior high class at Ridgecrest Christian School in 1984. He went on to graduate from Burroughs High School where he excelled in auto shop classes and was a member of the swim team. As a young man, Rick worked toward his childhood ream of becoming a police officer. He earned his associate's degree from Cerro Coso Community College and his bachelor's degree in criminal justice from California State University Bakersfield. For five years Rick worked as a reserve deputy for the Kern County Sheriff's Department. He also worked as a counselor at Camp Owens, Kernville and in the Kern County Probation Department in Ridgecrest. Rick's love of teaching came through as a long-time substitute for the Criminal Justice R.O.P. program at Burroughs High School. He most recently worked for seven years as an officer with the China Lake Police Department. As the field training officer, he was able to enjoy his love of teaching and of police work, educating new officers in police procedures, self defense and firearms skills. His Christian faith also partnered with his love of teaching, leading Rick to accept the role of youth leader at Desert Christian Center. There he was able to befriend, counsel and minister to young people and help them through their many needs and concerns, MaryAnn said. "His practical and Christ-centered counseltouched the lives of all ages." As a member of DCC Rick went with other church members on a mission to Haiti in August, 2001. They helped build a school, ministered to the children in vacation Bible school and ministered to the adults. Rick and the other team members said they were more blessed than the Haitians, his mother recalled. During Rick's life he touched many people - students who benefited from his knowledge and experience, people who came to faith in Jesus through his ministry and people he helped as a police officer, including two people whose lives he saved by administering CPR. But some of the people who will miss him most are his nieces and nephew. "My favorite thing to do with Uncle Rick was play video games, said his niece Emily. "I miss Uncle Ricky." My favorite things was to cuddle with hime and rough-house with him,"said his nephew Boaz. "I miss Uncle Ricky.' "My favorite things was to watch stupid, sillymovies with him," his niece Kayli recalled. "We watched 'Napoleon Dynamite' for the first time together. It was the last movie we watched together." The children's mother, Rick's sister-in-law, Amy Hoffman, recalled how Rick would often say that she was his favorite sister. "I would say , 'I'm your only sister.' He would reply, 'Yeah, but you're still my faborite sister." Thinking back on Rick's life of mentoring, ministry and service, Amy now has a new perspective. "Now I know I was his favorite sister because he adopted so many sisters in his life." Rick is survived by his mother MaryAnn Hoffman, brother Robert and wife Amy, nieces Kayli, Emily and Natalie, nephew Boaz, uncle Bob Stark and wife Carolyn of Ridgecrest, uncle Bill Stark and wife Susan of Sylmar, and numerous cousins. He was preceded in death by his father, Rev. Robert A. Hoffman and grandparents Wilbur and Mary Stark. Funeral services for Rick will be held at 3 pm on Saturday, June 4 at Desert Christian Center. Visitation at Holland & Lyons Mortuary will occur from 3 to 5 pm tomorrow and 5 to 7 pm on Friday.