Heinz Hoffmann

Heinz Karl Hoffmann was born on November 20, 1940 in war torn Germany. His town was at a railroad crossing between four major cities; it was bombed repeatedly so Heinz and his family had to flee to the forests for safety. Heinz spent his childhood during the Allied occupation of Germany. His mother, Emma, was a translator for the American military and for her service received food for her family. His father, Irwin, was missing in action on the eastern front and presumed dead. In fact, he was a prisoner doing forced labor in Siberia from 1944 to 1949. Only prisoners with incurable illnesses were sent home by the Russians, so Erwin feigned epilepsy and in 1949 finally returned home to his family. Heinz came from a family that knew how to endure hardship.
When he was seventeen, Heinz left his parents and Germany and immigrated to the United States. He finished high school, enlisted in the Air Force, attended the university, graduated with a degree in Literature and Foreign Language, and became a high school teacher. Heinz had goals and knew that hard work was the way to achieve these goals.
Heinz met his wife Frances at the university. As he tells it, he was smitten by her when he first saw her on the balcony of the university cafeteria; she grew to love him for his goodness and kindness. Together they worked hard in their professions as well as in several businesses. Financial security was important to both of them.
But family was most important of all. Heinz adored his four girls-his Frances, his Carla, his Autumn, and his Sydney. He always wanted the best for them and encouraged them to work hard. He often distributed "assigned readings." After his death, Autumn and Sydney found "assigned readings" that their grandfather had not yet distributed-for Autumn in Marine Biology and for Sydney in Cosmology.
A place to call home was very important to Heinz. While in the Air Force he was stationed at Keesler Air Force Base and fell in love with the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Heinz said it reminded him of the French Riviera (which he had seen in pictures); later he found out it was called the "Redneck Riviera." This was his chosen place of retirement, and in 1999 the family came to Pass Christian, and bought and lovingly restored the "Union Quarters," which still had much damage from Hurricane Camille.
Heinz and his family were no strangers to hardship. Their home on the north shore of Long Island was severely damaged in the "Storm of the Century," and the family had to fight nature and government regulations to rebuild it. In 2005, Heinz was diagnosed with and had surgery for colon cancer. Three days after he returned from the hospital, Hurricane Katrina hit and their beloved "Union Quarters," along with so many other homes, was destroyed. Heinz and his family fought insurance companies at the same time Heinz was enduring chemo therapy to restore his health. Heinz understood that perseverance and hard work was the way to prevail over adversity.
After Katrina, Heinz and his family relocated to Mobile. Carla promised her two girls that she would stay there until they graduated high school. The family's move back to Pass Christian began in 2016. Unfortunately Heinz wasn't able to make the move with his family.
At heart, Heinz was an adventurer. He always said, "Go forward, never go back." His life was an adventure-from a most difficult beginning as a child in war torn Germany, he realized many of his hopes and dreams. He loved to travel-his "bucket list" was a cruise around South America to Antarctica which he did in 2015.
Heinz and Frances celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 2016-Heinz said it felt like only thirty years, Frances said it felt like sixty. Last year Heinz happily celebrated his 76th birthday with his family in the City of New Orleans, listening to one of his favorite songs "I'm Walking to New Orleans."
Heinz had a good and full life. He was a good person who always tried to do the right thing, "even when it was hard," as his Sydney beautifully expressed on Facebook. He encouraged Carla, Autumn, and Sydney to have goals and work hard to attain those goals. It is sad that he could not be with his family longer. Heinz' four girls were with him throughout his ordeal-Frances by day, Carla, Autumn and Sydney by night. Autumn read him poetry, Sydney tried to make him comfortable, Carla offered words of encouragement, and Frances was at his side even in his last moments. Heinz never liked to be alone; his family made sure he didn't die alone. In thoughts and memories, Heinz will always be with his family. And his values, hopes, and aspirations have gone to the next generations. The adventurer led the way.
Mr. Hoffmann is survived by his wife, Frances Hoffmann, daughter, Carla Maria Hoffmann-Sharrow, and his granddaughters, Autumn Lee Sharrow and Sydney Lenore Sharrow.