of  
Robert Hoffman
As the faculty member with the longest tenure in the history of Cranbrook Schools, Bob Hoffman would probably be the last to boast about it. His 59 years of service to the community left an inimitable legacy.

Hoffman started at Cranbrook in 1945 -- at the age of 27 -- as a Latin instructor and housemaster. Hoffman taught upper school students for 43 years, sharing his diverse background of knowledge and inspiring all those who had the privelege of being in his classroom. He was known for his ability to remember names of hundreds of former students. At each year's orientation, several newcomers would also be surprised to discover he had known their name before they ever met.

In 1972, Hoffman was appointed assistant dean of boys, a position he held until his retirement in 2004.

In 1998, he was named chairperson of le Gala. The le Gala's Robert Hoffman Teachers' Sabbatical Endowment Fund was established in his name to celebrate the students, teachers and staff at Cranbrook Schools.
3/25/2009 - Dean Smith
I wrote a column for our local (Minnesota) paper about not cutting corners in life. Mr. Hoffman was the inspiration. On one of my occasional visits to the Dean’s Office (never for disciplinary reasons, of course), I asked Mr. Hoffman why he was so hard-nosed about walking on the grass. He escorted me from his office and pointed at the sidewalks that criss-crossed The Quad. “Those are for walking. Use them. Sometimes, the best path is not the most direct one. You kids need to learn how not to cut corners sometimes.” It’s been more than 20 years since I heard those words from him, and they still mean a great deal to me.
2/5/2009 - Peter Shin
Am surprised and saddened to hear of Mr. Hoffman's passing. As boring as latin could have been, he made the language, history, and prose really enjoyable, which pretty much explains why i came back to his class every year. He was pretty much what made Cranbrook a great learning experience. Will really miss him.
2/3/2009 - John Hoffman
Though unrelated to Bob, I enjoyed sharing the same last name and having people ask if he was my father. My teaching years at Cranbrook overlapped with him for 15 years. He was a midwest version of Mr. Chips, a thoroughly dependable and reliable force for students and faculty alike. I have wonderful memories of dinners with Bob and Pearl ('Pete') Peterson. Bob would disappear into the kitchen and return wearing an apron to serve the next course. Salad was served last, just before the dessert, which was always a variety of chocolate. He was one of my early mentors in the world of independent school teaching.
1/25/2009 - Clem Cleveland
I am deeply sadden to read of the loss of a dear friend. His humor has been boundless, and I appreciate that short time I have had to spend with him. Clem
1/23/2009 - Ron Quintero
Although I never had Mr. Hoffman as a teacher, he was influential upon me as a housemaster, faculty advisor, and mentor. He also enabled me build on the Cranbrook experience by directing me to his alma mater--Lafayette College. We were his children; he was a memorable, caring person. Mr. Hoffman was our Mr. Chips.
1/20/2009 - Bobbi Polk
Calling in for absences, Bob was always a wonderful person to talk with! "Bob" ... "Yes, Bobbi" he always knew who I was (I know that he didn't rely on caller ID!). I remember one time that I let Skeet skip a day to visit his cousin in Vermont. One day! Called Bob and let him know that Skeet would be out for the day ~ no lie!!! Alas ... snow storm in Vermont! Next day I called and caught Bob out of the office and left another message that Skeet would be out again that day. Next day thought that I would call again at the same time hoping that Bob would again not take my call but no, he answered! "Dean's Office, Bob Hoffman", in his deep voice. "Bob, Skeet will be out again today". "Wow, he must be really sick", said Bob. Of course, I could not tell a lie and told Bob the whole story! He said something like that's okay ~ why didn't you tell me that from the start!! Loved him and he was always available and always understanding! God bless you, Bob, you will forever be a wonderful part of my Cranbrook memories!
1/20/2009 - Josh Davidson
Mr. Hoffman was my favorite teacher ever, from pre-kindergarten through law school. He was an excellent Latin teacher who taught us ancient history, mythology and, indirectly, English grammar and vocabulary. He had been teaching close to 30 years when I had him and yet he was as fresh and passionate as could be. No-one can forget his dry sense of humor, his "old school" demeanor, his devotion to the students, and his high expectations of all of us. One of my favorite stories of his from before the modern era is when he gave two points and a Z-to a student who on the final exam submitted only his name and a doodle -- one point for getting the name right and one point for the doodle. When confronted with irate parents, he changed the grade to an F.
1/20/2009 - Gordon Peterson
Mr. Hoffman was also the head of Page Hall. I am afraid I gave him more than one gray hair during my 3 years in room 130. I also remember him taking attendance every afternoon during phys-ed by the bridge going to the lower fields.
1/20/2009 - Mary Peterson
Bob was one of the nicest and thoughtful people I've met at Cranbrook. His deadpan humor will always be remembered, as will his frequent trips to the Cranbrook Library to look up an alum in the yearbooks. I will miss him.
1/19/2009 - Kathryn Conner
Cranbrook is full of many unique people who made/make this place what it is & Bob Hoffman is certainly at the top of this group. When I moved into the role of Ben Snyder's assistant in the late 1980's, after the passing of Fran Weaver, I could not have been more intimidated on a number of levels. I was also a faculty wife and parent. Bob and Fran had been good friends. There came a time, that winter, when he stopped by my office, sat down, and we visited. At the end of our conversation he told me I was doing a good job. His words meant a great deal to me, as Fran herself was a legend. Bob's reach was and will remain far and wide in this community and beyond.
1/19/2009 - Brian Stratton
Bob was a true icon of Cranbrook. He was an accomplished faculty member, a beloved teacher and an amazing advisor. Bob's guidance and friendship over the past 19 years will live forever in my family's memories. Even as we chatted last week, he was more concerned about my family then his situation. Although I have many fond memories, two in particular stand out; the first is Bob standing next to me and a mirror teaching me to tie a bow tie. He was a perfectionist with his tie knots and I must have spent 2 hours learning from the Master; the second involves my return from Wilderness in which I spent the night at his apartment before flying to meet my family. Bob welcomed me off the bus and commented that I smelled really bad within seconds of greeting me. It was his candor, patience and humor which I will never forget. He will be missed and never forgotten.
1/19/2009 - Beatrix Fuzet-Przekop
For many years, Bob would cut out articles about France while reading the "New York Times" and he would put them in my mailbox; we had many interesting discussions about those articles. When Bob retired, we all missed his friendly, compassionate presence and his great sense of humour: his minutes of our faculty meetings were masterpieces of wit, spiced with numerous references to Greek and Latin mythology as well as world literature. Bob was a very cultured, Renaissance man, and a real gentleman. He will be missed but never forgotten.
1/19/2009 - Lisa Ritter
I was so sorry to hear of Mr. Hoffman's passing today. As a student, I never met him, but I got to know him when I was working on CranNet. He was such an interesting character and I always enjoyed seeing him. He wrote the funniest "minutes" of faculty meetings!
1/19/2009 - Anthony Berklich
Mr. Hoffman was the zest and spice I needed to wake up every morning upon arriving to school. His comments were thought-provoking and funny and I always had to stop for a minute to deconstruct what he had just said to me. Intelligent, kind, caring and funny without even trying to be...this was Mr. Hoffman. You made my experience at Cranbrook that much better!
1/19/2009 - Clint Moore
I am very saddened to hear of the passing of Bob Hoffman. He should go down in Cranbrook history as one of the truly greatest teachers of all time. His selfless dedication teaching us, not just book learning, but how to live an educated and honorable life, will be his greatest teaching to all that were blessed to know him. His most famous phrase "Geez Gents" is forever burned in my memory with great fondness and appreciation. Bob was a rock in the foundation of Cranbrook, and we are all so very blessed to have been taught by him. His memory will burn brightly in my mind and heart.
1/19/2009 - John Matter
Bob was a great advisor and true friend. He has left behind an amazing legacy of teaching and helping mentor countless students at Cranbrook. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
10/19/2008 - Dave Henning
I have two lasting memories of Mr. Hoffman. A student struggling to translate a passage of Caesar asked if the following was correct, "All of the Gauls were defeated?" Mr. Hoffman gave the deadpanned response, "Yeah, they were all running around on their ankles." I still use that one. My other lasting memory of Mr. Hoffman is watching him walking toward the Cranbrook Campus bus circle from the academic buildings in his typical coat and tie. He spotted a small piece of trash on the ground, bent over and picked it up. How many students, who were much younger, and less formally dressed, walked by that piece of trash without giving it a second thought?
6/23/2006 - Pr. John Weaver-Hudson
Mr. Hoffman is simply the best teacher I have ever had. He taught me Latin, he taught me rhetoric, he taught me about class, he taught me about and with compassion, he taught me about Countess Mara ties (before I switched to reversed collars). More than thirty years on, his deep learning, coruscating wit, and inimitable style and grace are as dazzling in the eye of memory as they were in room 117. Ad multos annos!
4/4/2006 - James Saylor
Bob Hoffman’s history courses sparked a life-long interest in the subject. I was impressed that Bob could lecture on history in depth without notes. A good history teacher like Bob places emphasis on the significance of historical events rather than memorization.
3/9/2006 - Alan Dowling
How could you ever forget someone who taught you that the world was divided into two kinds of people: those who remember the immortal opening line of Caesar's Gallic War as "Omnia Gallia in tres partes divisa est," and those who remember it as "Gallia est omnis divisa in partes tres"? More than that, who else could convince you that it mattered which was "correct"? Bob Hoffman managed to make the dusty, distant, arcane and ancient world of Rome come alive, with boundless enthusiasm, warmth, good humor, and a genuine belief in the value of learning the Latin language and studying its great writings. To this day, I sometimes find myself unconsciously writing in a natural Latin syntax, but always know exactly where it came from.
3/9/2006 - Jonathan Kurtzman
Bob Hoffman had tears in his eyes when I skipped class. I was so ashamed, I made up a story about having a migraine and needing to sit in the dark. He cared. He cared about teaching and about us as people.
3/9/2006 - Louis Triplett
Mr. Hoffman was by far the most amazing man ever at remembering names and faces. He knew who I was the first day of class as a freshman and 3 years after graduation walking around campus.
2/27/2006 - jon younger
Looking back at Cranbrook 15 years later it is Bob that comes to mind. Great smile warm welcome always, and taught me to be my own person. I miss you Bob!
12/27/2005 - Benjamin Keyserling
Although the only times I saw Mr. Hoffman were when I was waiting to be admonished by Mr. Winter or when I was picking up an absence slip, he always worked to make my day better (as is desirable when one is about to be yelled at by the dean of boys). I also remain amazed by his ability to spell and pronounce my last name.
9/11/2005 - Paul Overett
Bob Hoffman, he taught us how to have class.