Howard Hoffman

Howard Hoffman, 91, of 78 Will Rogers Drive, died on Friday June 22, 2018 at his home.

He was born in New York City on December 12, 1926, the son of Richard and Bessie Hoffman.

He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Bertha, from Uniontown PA, whom he married in Washington DC. He is also survived by two sons, Stanley, of Charleston SC, and Charles, of Waltham MA, and a daughter, Leslie, of Saranac Lake; seven grandchildren Emily, Amanda, Susanna, Nicholas, Richard, Alexander and Catherine; a sister Mrs. Eleanor Grunberg of Rockville MD, and several nieces and nephews. He liked to speak about his children's accomplishments. Stanley, Salutatorian of his class who earned degrees from MIT and Cal Tech and is a professor at the Medical University of South Carolina, Charles, Salutatorian of his class who earned degrees at MIT and Tufts and is a professor at Boston College and Leslie who had a successful career as a stuntwoman and stunt coordinator in the film industry in Hollywood. Howard was in the first 4 year graduating class of the Bronx High School of Science and received a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy Degree from Columbia University, College of Pharmacy in 1947 after serving in the United States Navy in WWII as an Electronic Technicians Mate 3/C.

Howard bought the pharmacy at 3 Bloomingdale Avenue in December 1951 from Ed Norton, which had been the Charles Reiss Pharmacy for many years. In June 1961 he relocated to Church Street Extension in the former Newman & Holmes shopping complex. He continued the original location as the Charlestan Record Shop. After the St. Regis Hotel fire, he ran the Trailways Bus Terminal. Howard bought the Cohen Pharmacy in Tupper Lake and operated it between 1964-1966. He retired in 1999.

Howard was active in community affairs. He was: President of the Saranac Lake Business Association, served on the Saranac Lake Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, served on the Saranac Lake Parking Committee, Chairman of the Red Cross Fund Drive 1959, Master of the Whiteface Mountain Masonic Lodge #789, Member of the Royal Arch Masons Wanneta Chapter #291, President of the Saranac Lake Lions Club, member of the Saranac Lake Elks Club #1508, member of the American Legion Post #447, President of the Saranac Lake Jewish Community Center, President of Adirondack Champlain Pharmaceutical Society, member of the Board of Governors of the American Contract Bridge League, District 3 President of the Adirondack Unit #156 of the ACBL, President of the Saranac Lake Duplicate Bridge Club and Certified Director of the ACBL

When he moved to Saranac Village at Will Rogers, Howard established a sanctioned Duplicate Bridge Club. His avocation was Duplicate Bridge. He won several Regional Pairs Championships with his favorite partners Linda Hagar and Joan Hough, and Team Events with them that included Pete Hagar.

Burial will be at the Pine Ridge Cemetery in Saranac Lake at the convenience of the family. A memorial service will be held at Saranac Village at Will Rogers in Saranac Lake to be announced. Memorial contributions should be to your favorite charity.

Funeral arrangements are in care of the Fortune-Keough Funeral Home. Family and friends can share their memories and sign the online guestbook at fortunekeoughfuneralhome.com.