OBITUARY
Frederick William Hoffman
May 18, 1951 – October 26, 2019
Auto Industry supporter and former honorary consul for the Federal Republic of Germany, Fred Hoffman died last month after a lengthy battle with cancer. He was 68.
Hoffman lived for most of his life in Dearborn. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan-Dearborn and his law degree from Michigan State University. He also had advanced business studies at INSEAD University and the National Development Finance Council.
Hoffman's laundry list of professional accomplishments is more than impressive. From 1967-77, he worked as a columnist and editor for the Dearborn Guide Newspapers and the Times Herald Publications. Hoffman loved Dearborn and would serve for a time as the city's deputy mayor under Mayor John O'Reilly. He worked as an executive for Chrysler for 20 years, including during the Daimler Chrysler merger. Following his retirement from Chrysler, Hoffman would go on to serve as Gov. Jennifer Granholm's advisor on auto restructuring and economic development during the auto industry crisis.
Hoffman served on Consul with the highly respected Clark Hill law firm for eight years. He was also appointed the first honorary consul for the Federal Republic of Germany following the closing of the Detroit consulate office in 1999. Hoffman served as honorary consul from 2002-2018.
Additional appointments, awards and recognitions are too numerous to mention, but it's clear that Hoffman was a very busy man. Hoffman is survived by his husband of 36 years, Jim Stokes. Funeral services for Hoffman have already taken place. Donations can be made in Hoffman's name to The Capuchin Franciscan Province of St. Joseph.
