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Welcome to the memorial page for
Emil Thomas Hofman
June 24, 1921 ~ July 11, 2015 (age 94) 94 Years OldShare using:
Emil Thomas Hofman
June 24, 1921 ~ July 11, 2015
Emil T. Hofman died July 11, 2015 at his home in Holy Cross Village, Notre Dame, IN after an illness. He was born June 24, 1921 in Paterson, New Jersey to Mary (Vervaet) Hofman and August Joseph Hofman, who preceded him in death. His sister, Claire Hofman Barth (Norman), and his brother, Warren James Hofman, also preceded him in death.
In 1940-1941, Emil matriculated at the Seton Hall College in South Orange, NJ. In order to meet expenses, he worked at the Wright Aeronautical Corporation, where the cyclone engines that powered the B-17 aircraft were built. Emil then flew on these B-17s during his tour of duty during World War II. After the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, Emil enlisted in the Army Air Force on his 21st birthday in 1942. After attending many technical schools, he was eventually assigned to the 816 Squadron of the 483 group of the 15th Strategic Bombing Air Force. There he became a member of a B-17 Flying Fortress Combat Crew in the European war zone. He was awarded the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Clusters, several combat stars and the Distinguished Unit Citation.
When he was discharged from the service in 1945, with the GI Bill, he enrolled in The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. In 1949, he received his AB degree with a major in Chemistry. With his many GI Bill points, he then enrolled for double summer school sessions at Miami University, earning a second AB degree in Chemistry from Miami.
In January, 1950 Emil was accepted as a graduate student in the Chemistry Department at the University of Notre Dame, where he received his PhD. After receiving his MA degree, he was appointed to the Chemistry faculty with the rank of Instructor and remained on the faculty until his retirement in 1990. His scientific research was in chelating polymers; an area in which he directed several dissertations and published several articles. He was Research Director for six PhD candidates.
It is estimated that during his teaching career, he had taught General Chemistry to more than 32,000 students, including thousands who later became physicians, engineers or scientists. In 1963, he was selected to be the first recipient of the Thomas P. Madden Award in excellence for teaching freshman students. In May of 1971, he was appointed Dean of the Freshman Year of Studies. He developed a curriculum that emphasized General Education for what it meant to the quality of life. With the help of very qualified counselors, he established a guidance program which was unsurpassed.
During his multifaceted career, he was much concerned with adult education. He directed the National Science Foundation / Notre Dame Teacher Training Institute. During the time from 1957-1974, approximately 400 high school teachers received the Masters degree in Chemistry and then went back to their schools to become leaders in High School Chemical Education. He also initiated and directed the Evening Graduate Studies Program for chemists in local industry. Several of these chemists received MA degrees and two of them went on to receive PhD in chemistry.
He became involved in programs to educate the public about the progressions in science. Under his direction, the College of Science presented a lecture series, “Challenges in Science”. These lectures were given by some of the most prominent scientists in the world, including Linus Pauling, James Watson, Edward Teller and Louis Alvarez.
In 1974, he directed the “25th International Science and Engineering Fair”. It was the first International Fair ever held at a university campus. It ran for a week and included participants from five continents.
Dr. Hofman received a great deal of recognition from the University of Notre Dame and organizations throughout the country. He was awarded the Presidential Science Citation of the University of Notre Dame. He received the “James E. Armstrong Award”, given by the Notre Dame Alumni Association in recognition of his service to the University and his personal qualities that reflect the high principles of the University of Notre Dame. He was selected for the Father Shilts Award for teaching in the College of Science. In 1997, The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry established an annual award named “The Emil T. Hofman Graduate Teaching Award” in recognition of excellent teaching by a teaching assistant in the First Year Program.
In October, 1982, Dr. Hofman received the Alumni Outstanding Achievement Award in Science from the Catholic University of America. In 1988, The Council for the Advancement and Support of Education identified Dr. Hofman as one of the top professors of the country.
In 1993, the Emil T. Hofman Lecture Series was established at Notre Dame by former students who have distinguished themselves in the Health Professions. To date, more than 20 lectures have been given and each attended by 300 - 600 on a football weekend. In 2000, a Professional Chair was endowed at Notre Dame in Dr. Hofman’s name. In 2003, he was inducted as an honorary member of the monogram Club of the University. At the Notre Dame commencement in May, 1990, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Science Degree.
At the completion of the renovation of the Main Building at Notre Dame, A Wall of Honor was erected. The Wall honors “the certain exceptional men and women whose contributions to Notre Dame are lasting, pervasive and profound”. Twenty men and women were selected to be in the initial group of honorees. Dr. Hofman was one of them.
After his formal retirement, Dr. Hofman continued to be active at Notre Dame by speaking to Notre Dame Alumni groups throughout the country at their celebrations and welcoming new students from their areas. In association with Fr. Thomas Streit, CSC, he participated in a program to relieve Haiti of some of the dreaded disease and poverty that plague it.
On November 23, 1957, Emil married the love of his life, Joan Sherron, in Louisville, Kentucky. She survived along with their three sons, James of Minneapolis, Thomas (Kathryn Baugh) of Milwaukee and Michael of Asheville, North Carolina; six grandchildren, Courtney of Washington, DC, Colin of New York, Vanessa and Ethan of Minneapolis and Ben and Peter of Milwaukee. Also surviving is his nephew, Norman Barth (Cathy) of Scottsdale, Arizona.
Visitation will be on Sunday, July 19 from 3:00 - 5:00 PM with a Rosary service at 5:00 PM at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on the Notre Dame campus. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, July 20 at 9:30 AM at the Basilica.
In lieu of flowers, please make memorial offerings to the Emil T. Hofman Scholarship Fund at the University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556
Palmer Funeral Home - Hickey Chapel and Southlawn Cremation Services are assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be left for the Hofman family at www.palmerfuneralhomes.com.
Visitation
SundayJuly 19, 2015
3:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Basilica of the Sacred Heart
University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, IN 46556
Recitation of the Rosary
SundayJuly 19, 2015
5:00 PM
Basilica of the Sacred Heart
University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, IN 46556
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