Robert Terry Hoffman

August 23, 1943 - May 11, 2022

Born in Norfolk VA to Robert and Cornelia, Dad grew up as a Navy kid spending time at a variety of military bases including in the Philippines and Japan before settling in La Jolla CA where he found his love for surfing. Surfing and his love for the ocean shaped both his life and that of his family. Terry as he was known, graduated from The University of California at Berkley in 1965 and married Kathy shortly thereafter, who would be his partner until her passing in 2020. As a young couple they followed his love for surfing to Makaha in 1966, where he began his career doing research and development for the Navy. Over his career he was blessed to work with many who became long and dear friends. Together they produced a variety of ocean engineering equipment, including an unmanned deep diving vehicle capable of exploring the ocean below 20,000 feet. He received 7 patents and completed his career in 1995 as Science Advisor to the Marine Forces in the Pacific. Although work was important to Terry, he truly excelled was an avid waterman, body surfing at lunch and spending thousands of hours in the water with his boys Scott and Doug. He was a wood worker who loved Koa, almost as much as his wife Kathy, and made cabinets for several homes, schools and churches over the years. He was a practicing Christian who put faith for his salvation in Jesus’s promise that he was the way, the truth and the light. Terry instilled his faith in his family, and was an active witness to Christ throughout his life. He led many bible studies out of his home and regularly reached out and helped support other believers in need. He was a dedicated giver to world missions and helping the needy. He was blessed to spend time surfing and skiing with his five grandchildren, Kaili, Noah, Matt, Lucia and Tom. He passed at home after a long bout with Lewy Body Dementia and was blessed to have been cared for by many excellent caregivers including his wife Kathy, and his sons Scott and Doug. He will be missed by many who were fortunate to have known him over the years.