Rear Admiral
Chauncey F. Hoffman, USN (Ret.), a submariner who commanded the U.S. Naval
Forces, Marianas, died on 24 October 2008. He was 77 years old.
A native of East
Washington, PA, Admiral Hoffman graduated from his beloved East Washington High
School (Galloping Ghosts) in 1949 and attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
before entering the Naval Academy in 1952. He graduated in the Class of 1956,
standing in the top 10% of his class.
He reported to
Submarine School in New London, CT. Upon graduation in 1957, he reported to his
first submarine, TORSK. After serving in GRAMPUS, he entered Naval Postgraduate
School in 1961. Upon graduation, he was stationed at the National Security
Agency with the Navy’s prestigious Naval Field Operational Intelligence Office.
Returning to sea on board TROUT in 1964, he reported asthe second in command of
BECUNA in 1966, then-Lieutenant Commander Hoffman, reported to the Submarine
Warfare Division of the Pentagon. From here, he took command of GRAMPUS in
1970. Since leaving GRAMPUS in 1972, Hoffman had six additional commands
including, Director, Naval Ocean Surveillance Information Center (1975-1976);
Commanding Officer, Naval Field Operational Intelligence Office (1976);Deputy
Director of Athletics/Head Physical Education Department, U.S. Naval Academy
(1977–1979); Commanding Officer, Naval Intelligence Support Center
(1980–1985);Commander, Naval Intelligence Command (1982–1985); and Commander,
U.S. Naval Forces Marianas (1985–1987). Admiral Hoffman retired in 1988.
His personal
military decorations include three Legion of Merits (the nation’s second
highest peacetime medal), the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, two Navy
Meritorious Service Medals, the Navy Commendation Medal, the French “Ordre
National Du Merit Medal” and other unit and service awards. He retired to his
hometown to live and restore his family(Frazier) home. He was elected to the
Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame for his tour in athletics at the U.S. Naval
Academy.
Survivors include
his wife, Vicki; four daughters, Christy Lynn Hoffman-Simon (Phil) of
Washington, DC, Karen Ellen Erlandson (Rick) of Winter Springs, FL, Pamela
Frazier McDaniel (Mark) of Winter Park, FL, and Chaucey Ann Hoffman of
Washington, PA; and two stepchildren, Sara Ann Krakowski (Paul) of Tampa, FL,
and Joshua Howland Gorham of Charlotte, NC. Eight grandchildren also survive.
Admiral Hoffman will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery on 28 January
2009 at 3 p.m.
