A message from President Dale Knobel:

May 3, 2011

A memorial gathering for William A. Hoffman, professor emeritus of chemistry, will be held Sunday, May 15, 2011, from 4 to 6:30 p.m. at Bryn Du Mansion, located at 537 Jones Road in Granville. Dr. Hoffman died on April 26, 2011, at Riverside Hospital in Columbus.

Bill earned his M.S. and Ph.D. in chemistry at Purdue University. In 1955, he took a position in chemistry at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Conn. He and his family came to Granville in 1960 when he joined the Denison Department of Chemistry. He went on to teach at Denison for 35 years, including periods as chair of the Chemistry Department, and four years as dean of Admissions and Financial Aid. Trained as an analytical chemist, his research centered on the study of complex aqueous equilibria, including the effects of acid rain on forests and the behavior of metal ions produced in nuclear reactions. He spent several sabbaticals at various national laboratories around the country and was the director of the Great Lakes Colleges Association program at the National Laboratories in Oak Ridge, Tenn. Bill was a member the American Association for the Advancement of Science and was active in the Columbus section of the American Chemical Society, in which he held several leadership roles, including president. He was also a member of Sigma Xi, the national science honorary society.

An enthusiastic and talented teacher, Bill influenced the lives of many students over the years, including those that he mentored in his research projects. He took special pleasure in helping students interested in art conservation develop projects at Denison and followed their careers with interest. He was noted for his “Word for the Day” in his Chemistry classes. He was a sports lover and well known handball player at the Denison gymnasium.

Bill remained an active presence on the Denison campus and in the Granville community after his retirement in 1995. He is especially remembered for his volunteer work for the Granville Historical Society and as the leading advocate for the Southwest Granville Path that would connect the Evans bicycle and walking path to the Spring Valley Nature Preserve.

Memorial contributions may be directed to Kendal at Granville for the Southwest Pathway or to the Granville Historical Society. Online condolences may be expressed at McPeek-Hoekstra Funeral Home.

A message from President Dale Knobel:

April 26, 2011

I am saddened to let you know that William A. Hoffman, professor emeritus of chemistry, died early this morning at Riverside Hospital in Columbus. He was 82. Bill served the college from 1960 to 1995. He and his wife Flo, retired University Archivist, have been active and committed members of the Denison and Granville communities for many years. Our thoughts are with Flo and the family at this time of loss. Bill will be deeply missed. 

Memorial arrangements are incomplete at this time. We will share more information as it becomes available. The Denison flag will fly at half staff for a period of three days in Dr. Hoffman's memory.

Obituary and memorial information may be viewed at McPeek-Hoekstra Funeral Home.