Born and raised in Somerville, Ray was a graduate of Somerville High School. He was honorably discharged from the US Army in 1953 having served as a Staff Sargent in Fort Dix. Ray started employment with Selective Risks Insurance Company in 1954 (now Selective Insurance Group, Inc., SIGI) as a Claims Adjuster working out of the Somerville branch on Division Street. He met his future wife, Marion (McNeilie), while enrolled in a training seminar at the SIGI Branchville home office. Ray and Marion married on March 17, 1956 and resided in Bridgewater Twp. Dedicated to his career Ray steadily advanced in SIGI and was promoted, then transferred to the Branchville office in 1968. He worked over 39 years prior to retiring as the Assistant Vice President of Claims Administration of SIGI in July 1993.
Ray loved to spend summers at the NJ shore, with early ties to property owned by his parents in Lavallette and later owning a vacation home with Marion in Village Harbor, Manahawkin. Through the years, their warm hospitality and outgoing personalities encircled them with family and friends from hosting dinner parties to travelling abroad. They also focused their attention on their little Dachshunds. Ray’s favorite pastime was painting or working outside in the sea shore breeze of summer, then enjoying some R&R with family and friends on the deck.
Ray was baptized in the First United Methodist Church of Somerville where he became a member; in August 1968 he joined the Branchville UMC. Ray faithfully served the churches in many roles. He was also a member of the NJ Society of Free Masons, achieving the level of Master Mason at the Kittatinny Masonic Lodge in 1958. Ray also served one term on the Board of Education for High Point Regional High School from 1978 to 1982.
Son of the late Andrew P. Hofmann, Jr. and Dorothy (Frank) Hofmann, Ray was also predeceased by his beloved wife, Marion (McNeilie) Hofmann; and his older brother, Andrew P. Hofmann. He is survived by his sons, David L. Hofmann and wife, Nancy, and Jeffrey D. Hofmann and wife, Pamela; his grandchildren, Amy Dietert and husband, Matt, Laura Moyer and Jarryd, Emily Margiel and husband, Mike, JoMarie Hofmann and Reed Hofmann; his great-grandchildren, Bryce and Lyla Moyer, and Chelsea Dietert.
Visitation will be held from 9:30 am to 11 am on Saturday, July 15, 2023, at Wood Funeral Home, 16 Main St, Branchville, NJ. Funeral Services will begin at 11 am; burial will follow in Branchville Cemetery, Pines Rd, Branchville, NJ.
Memorial donations may be made to the United Methodist Church of Branchville, 8 Broad Street, PO Box 509, Branchville, NJ 07826 or the Manahawkin United Methodist Church, 116 Stafford Avenue, Manahawkin, NJ 08050. Online condolences may be offered at www.woodfuneralhome.net.
