Ralph J. Hoffman

an educator

Ralph J. Hoffman, 79, of Cranston, died June 22, 2010 at Rhode Island Hospital. He was the beloved husband of Antoinette (DelGreco) Hoffman. They had celebrated their 53rd wedding anniversary on Jan. 4, 2010 Born in Providence, a son of the late Charles and Harriet (Gordon) Hoffman, he had been a resident of Cranston for the past 47 years. A 1949 graduate of Cranston High School, Ralph had distinguished himself as an educator and in community affairs. After earning his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Rhode Island, he went on to earn a Master of Arts degree from Providence College. He also did graduate work at Rhode Island College, URI, the University of Connecticut and Providence College. During this period he taught social studies at North Kingstown High School from 1960-1965. In 1965 Ralph was a social studies teacher and basketball coach at Pilgrim High School in Warwick. In 1970 he became the assistant principal of Pilgrim. In 1983 Ralph was named principal of Pilgrim and served in that capacity for the next four years. In 1988 he was named hearing officer for the Warwick School Department. He also was a real estate agent in Cranston. Ralph was involved in local Cranston politics, running for the City Council in 1962, 1982 and 1984. In 1964 he was elected to a ward committee and served on a senatorial district committee. He was also a member of the Cranston Board of Canvasses for 13 years. In 1999 he was inducted into the Cranston Hall of Fame. He belonged to a number of professional organizations, including the National Association of Secondary School Principals and the Rhode Island Principals Association. He served on the board of directors of the Volunteers in Cranston Schools and the advisory board of the Cranston Herald. He was a past member of the Cranston YMCA board of directors, a teacher of CCD at St. Mark’s Parish, a baseball coach in the Sunday League, a captain in the Catholic Charity Fund and a captain in the Kent County Hospital Drive. He was named selection officer of the Armenian Church from 1992-1999. He was a volunteer for the RI Association of Retarded Citizens in 1995. He was the devoted father of Dr. Cary Hoffman of Narragansett and Florida, Cynthia Berlinger and her husband, Marc, of Cumberland, Michelle Russo and her husband, Stephen, of West Greenwich and Leah Gendron and her husband, Joseph, of East Greenwich. The loves of his life were his grandchildren, Anthony and Angela Russo, Alexis, Sara and Benjamin Berlinger and Joseph and Alex Gendron. He was the dear brother of Bernice Hoffman, Madeline Caramante and the late Barbara Evans and Donald Hoffman. His funeral was held June 26 from The Butterfield Chapel, 500 Pontiac Ave., Cranston, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Mark's Church, 31 Popular Dr., Cranston. Memorial contributions may be made to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 44 Binney St., Boston, MA 02115. To sign an online guest book visit www.thebutterfieldhome.com.