Laurence Joseph Hoffman

Laurence J. (Larry) Hoffman, 80, passed away May 13, 2023 in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. He was born October 10, 1942 in Hartford, Connecticut to Ethel and Marvin Hoffman and is survived by his wife of 59 years, Michele, his sons Zachary and Matthew, his daughter-in-law Ellen and his two adored granddaughters, Celia and Isabel.

Larry grew up in Marblehead, Massachusetts. His dad ran Marvin Oldsmobile in Lynn, Massachusetts and later was a principal in a food supply business. His mom was active in local politics and charities. Larry was an avid athlete from an early age, honing his competitive skills at home, playing all types of sports with his younger brother Peter (deceased). He was an active participant in Little League baseball, where he was dubbed “home run king” of the Lynn Massachusetts (Tigers). His ball-playing pals said he had to hit home runs because he was a slow runner. At Marblehead High School he played four years on both the baseball and basketball teams.

In 1960, Larry moved on to Brown University where he played a couple of years of baseball and often told the story of competing against Roger Staubach when the Navy team came to play in Providence. In 1963, he met classmate Michele Levine and after graduating in 1964, they married and headed to Boston where Larry attended Boston University Law School from which he graduated in 1967 with high honors.

That year, Larry started his legal career at the National Labor Relations Board in Washington DC, but was there less than a year when he was recruited to join Steptoe and Johnson in their Labor practice department. Three years later, he was invited to become the third associate at a new start-up satellite office of the Texas-based firm Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer and Feld, where he remained until his full retirement in 2007. At that time, he was the firm’s longest serving managing partner of the DC office. In that role, Larry was the first lawyer at the firm to acquire and use a personal computer in the early 80’s — some of his skeptical partners named the device “Harry” and would joke about visiting Larry and Harry to discuss a random billing issue. Additionally, Larry was active for several years with the Washington Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights and Urban affairs.

Larry was a fixture at the downtown DC YMCA, where he played basketball most workdays at lunchtime for years. He was widely known for his famous behind-the-back move, and for making one spectacular game-ending basket for which his fellow players installed a “plaque” on the wall to memorialize the feat. He loved it!

After retiring from day-to-day practice in 2000, Larry spent as much time as possible outdoors, enjoying golf and fishing at homes in St Michaels, Maryland and Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, making friends amongst other seriously competitive golfers who could, and often did, join him for up to 36 holes a day. He recorded three holes-in-one. He was also an accomplished, self-taught woodworker, crafting all sorts of furniture items as well as many toys and doll houses for his granddaughters.

For nearly 40 years, Larry was an active parent advocate at the Benedictine School and Adult Services Program which still serves the special needs of his son Zachary. He served on the board for most of that time, acting as chair for 10 years.

To honor his memory, donations may be made to The Benedictine Foundation, 14299 Benedictine Lane, Ridgely, MD, 21660. A memorial service will be held in late June in Washington, DC.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.howard-quattlebaum.com for the Hoffman family.