IN MEMORIAM: Beth Hoffman ‘00

The Rev. Beth Borah Hoffmann, Class of 2000, died in Vancouver, WA on December 22, 2022, after a two-year illness, aged 79.  She was both a friend and an inspiration to her family and to all the many other people whose lives she touched over the years.  Beth was a gifted writer and speaker, and her sermons were memorable.  She was an avid reader, tireless learner, and an unfailing champion of the disadvantaged and of society’s underdogs.

She earned a two-year degree from Stephens College, a bachelor’s degree from Bridgeport University, her social work certification from Columbia University and her Master of Divinity from General. 

She was an active member of Alcoholics Anonymous for 47 years, a substance abuse counselor in both a hospital setting and later in private practice and served as EAP Director at a major Connecticut hospital.  She was ordained as an Episcopal Priest in 2001 at age 58. 

Following her ordination, she served as year-round retreat director and summer camp religious director for several hundred underprivileged NYC children and teens at the Incarnation Retreat Center in Ivoryton, CT; as Associate Rector at St Mary’s Church in Manchester, CT; as Priest in Charge at Church of the Epiphany in Durham CT; St. John church in Bandon, OR; St Augustine of Canterbury in Navarre, FL; St John’s church in Monroeville, AL; and at St Timothy’s in Yakima, WA from where she retired in 2021.  

Beth is survived by her husband of 59 years Lewis (Bud) Hoffmann of Vancouver, WA; her daughter Emily Vawter (Bill) of Hood River OR; and her sister Emily Peterson of Pensacola, FL.  She is also survived by cousins Susan Ball, Phil Stocke and Alma Kinzley; and nieces and nephews David Peterson, Elanor Peterson, Liz Sherman, Ginny Lou Plamondon and John Hamilton. 

A Celebration of Life service for Beth will be held at St Timothy’s Episcopal Church in Yakima, WA at 2PM (PST) / 5PM (EST) on Saturday, Jan 21.  The service will be broadcast live on Zoom.  Those wishing to join the service may contact the church at office@sttimothyyakima.org to obtain the Zoom link.      

Contributions in lieu of flowers may be made to St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church, 4105 Richey Road, Yakima, WA 98908.  

Condolences can be mailed to Bud Hoffman, 415 SE 177th Avenue, Unit 233, Vancouver, WA 98683 

Obituary provided by the family.