Robert Dow Hoffman, JR.: Obituary

On August 30, 2014, Dow died of heart failure at the Emory University Medical Center in Atlanta. Dow was born in Cincinnati, Ohio on July 24, 1941, to Robert Dow and Rosemary Augusta Hoffman. He grew up in the greater Miami, Florida area before graduating from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1963 doing his undergraduate and graduate work in Mechanical Engineering. First employed by Cummins Engine Company of Columbus, Indiana in 1964 he remained there for twenty-three years before taking franchise ownership of the Interstate Battery System of Jacksonville, Florida. He remained owner for thirteen years before retiring to Walnut Mountain with his wife in 2000.

While Dow’s interests ranged from genealogy to Amateur Radio, having joined the Ellijay Amateur Radio Society, his two lifelong interests were photography and sailing. Beginning in high school he loved the art of photography and early on became the family photographer. In 1980, he realized his goal of going on a photographic safari in Kenya. While growing up in Florida he was introduced to boating at an early age, but when he moved to Indiana he stated competing in Y-Flyer sailing. Later he was able to sail with friends from St. Thomas to St. Croix, U.S. Virgin islands and in San Francisco Bay around Alcatraz and under the Golden Gate Bridge. Further, he also competed in annual Mug Races on the St. John’s River in Jacksonville, Florida.

On August 30, 2014, Dow died of heart failure at the Emory University Medical Center in Atlanta. He is survived by his wife, Lois, three children: Lisa Hutson of Atlanta, Dr. Robert Hoffman of Savannah, and Edward Hoffman of San Jose, California and five grandchildren. In addition his brother Michael Hoffman of Orlando, Florida, sister, Anne Kelly of Jupiter, Florida, and brother Ralph Hoffman of High Springs, Florida survive.

Services will be held in Savannah on Saturday September 13, 2014. The family kindly request that in lieu of flowers donations be made to Homeward Bound Pet Rescue, Inc., P.O. Box 792, Ellijay, GA 30540.

Bernhardt Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. Condolences can be made at http://www.bernhardtfh.com