This site makes extensive use of JavaScript, for the best browsing experience we recommend you enable JavaScript in your browser.

Scott Hoffman Rest In Peace

Don Kraus | June 8th, 2012
Topics: Fellows, WFI

On Saturday afternoon at 12:40, my good friend and former colleague Scott Hoffman succumbed to the melanoma he had fought for the past year.  Scott was a gentle warrior for the cause of world peace. He will be missed. 

Scott was a Harvard graduate who worked with Global Solutions and its predecessor organizations from 1985 until he retired in 2008.  Scott served as the Executive Director of the World Federalist Association of New England from 1985 to 1990, the Field Director of the World Federalist Association from 1990 to 2004 and the director of the Citizens for Global Solutions' World Federalist Institute until he retired. He was the only person I know that spent an entire career working for a better-governed world.

Scott considered himself "a combination of an idealist and a pragmatist." Since he was in high school, he believed that world federation was the answer to the world's problems, yet he was willing to work on pragmatic steps that made the world a better place now and also moved it in the direction of his ideals.

Scott was a bridge builder; a calm negotiator who would work hard to bring together individuals who often had conflicting opinions.  He spent many hours with our chapter leaders, board members, and staff quietly cajoling them to work together and form consensus positions.

Scott was a very patient man who rarely sought the center stage. I recall a media event that we did at the White House where Scott, who we convinced to dress up as Uncle Sam, was literally tying up UN peacekeepers (by withholding US dues).  Scott played his part well, but as soon as the event ended a large group of Japanese tourists who had been watching us asked to pose with "Uncle Sam."  Scott patiently stood there and let them take their pictures until they were all done.

Scott was also a philosopher.  Curling up with Aristotle or Kant was a great way for him to spend an evening.  I will particularly miss our periodic lunches where we would enjoy good food at Mr. Henry's on Pennsylvania or Trattoria Alberto's on 8th Street and solve, or at least identify, the world's problems.

Scott is survived by his partner Emma and his sisters Nancy and Mary Ellen.  A memorial service for Scott will be held on Friday, June 29th from noon to 3 at the Theater Church, 535 8th Street, S.E., Washington, D.C., with a reception to follow. We have set up a memorial fund in his honor.

Comments

Submitted by Don Kraus (not verified) on June 12, 2012 - 9:51am EDT

From Scott's sister Nancy:

"Thank you, Don. This is a lovely tribute, and I am sure you have the only picture existing of Scott in a Hawaiian shirt! He looks good in it. My husband and I attended a gathering with Scott in that back yard several years ago - a very pleasant memory. I am sure Scott shared with you that our father was an early member of the World Federalists after WWII. When he was recalled into the service during the Korean War and then pursued a Defense Department career, he let his affiliation lapse, but toward the end of his career, he became disillusioned with the Defense Department approach and actually took early retirement on the heels of proposing a Department of Peace. He applauded Scott's involvement with the Federalists."

I never knew this about Scott's dad. Do you have other stories to share?

Submitted by Emma (not verified) on June 12, 2012 - 9:52am EDT

Don, thank you for taking the time and the heart to put together this tribute. For me it captures the essence of Scott as a CGS colleague, a passionate worker for peace, and a thinker who wanted to engage with world problems and ideas. You were ever a good friend to him. Thank you for honoring him in this way.

Submitted by Debbie (not verified) on June 12, 2012 - 12:05pm EDT

Scott cared about a kinder, smarter planet and he walked his talk. I remember us rushing for a train in Paris, only to find he suddenly stopped to give money to a homeless person. You're right, Don - he was a patient, gentle, and oh-so-wise philosopher and world citizen. I won't be afraid of death, knowing Scott is waiting on the other side.

Submitted by Jan Marie Rushforth (not verified) on June 26, 2012 - 3:05pm EDT

Thanks for Don's wonderful tribute to Scott Hoffman - a Peace Maker, Gentle Spirit, Good Man... Scott, you are missed.

Submitted by Don Kraus (not verified) on June 26, 2012 - 3:10pm EDT

Thanks Jan Marie. If you or others have words to be shared at Scott's memorial this Friday. Please send them to me and I will read them if possible.

Submitted by Don Kraus (not verified) on June 29, 2012 - 3:04pm EDT

Today we had a wonderful memorial for Scott. Below are some of the readings from folks who could not make it. I hope that others who had wonderful remembrances of Scott will share them here:

Memorial for Scott Hoffman, June 29, 2012
Earl James

I’m sorry that I’m unable to be with everyone in person today to celebrate the life of Scott Hoffman. Although I deeply regret not having been able to be with Scott during his illness, the wonderful memories I have of working with Scott, and of our long talks whenever I visited DC after moving to New Mexico, have helped me deal with the loss.

Here’s what I remember most about Scott:

He was able to be an intellectually disciplined thinker while simultaneously being compassionate toward all beings.

He was a very discerning individual, able to see and hear others for who they were, or were not, without being judgmental.

He had the patience of a monk, and the wisdom of someone who had lived many lifetimes.

Even with all these somewhat superhuman qualities, Scott was very much a fellow human being, someone who loved without a gaggle of conditions, felt hurt if treated badly, and celebrated hard-won victories with gusto.

His passing is a big loss to our community, but his life was a great gift to all who knew him and let him into their lives. All that’s left to say is: Thanks, Scott, for being part of my life.

Submitted by Don Kraus (not verified) on June 29, 2012 - 3:06pm EDT

Dear admirers of Scott, I wish so much I could be with you today, but I will be out in a few weeks to help celebrate Scott is different ways.

I met Scott in 1995 at a World Federalist conference in Washington DC. We found we were both in the same meditation group, were both music teachers, and both had a passion for seeing a better world happen through World Federation. I was so impressed with his intelligence and command of the language that I was able to muster radio and TV interviews for him in the Midwest, and he always impressed the audiences.

For 17 years I had been in contact with Scott every few weeks and he has always been endlessly knowledgeable, ethical, and in quest to become a better person. He also could be absolutely hilarious.

In helping Scott over the last few months, I have been so amazed and touched by the outpouring of help that you, his neighbors, have lovingly provided – and by the beautiful words of those in Citizens for Global Solutions who wrote to him from around the country. Neighbor Charlotte Romero, especially, has been so exceptional in the physical, emotional and organizational help she provided.

My sympathy especially goes out to his beautiful partner, Emma (who Scott was so happy with), to Scott’s most loving sisters Mary Ellen and Nancy, and to Scott’s dear friend Steve Damours, who was about the only person I knew who could keep up with Scott in endless, intense intellectual discourse.

Scott was a very unique and remarkable person who loved bringing peace to the world. He absolutely loved life, especially through the miracles of books, ideas, music and language. We will never find another like him.

My love and gratitude are with you all today, and I know Scott’s spirit will live on in all of us.

Debbie Metke
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Submitted by Tad Daley (not verified) on June 29, 2012 - 7:17pm EDT

It really was a very moving memorial service today for our paisano Scott Hoffman.

Many, many of the people there were from his life as a music teacher.

I spoke to a few, and it was clear that virtually none of them knew anything about his other life, with us, other than that he was "for peace."

But Don's words, and Debbie Metke's and Earl James's comments read aloud by Don, conveyed to these folks that Scott's life was devoted to an idea at once both more specific and more grand. The idea that we ought not assume that war as a political institution must remain a permanent feature of the human condition. That enduring world peace could in fact come about one distant day through enforceable world law, enacted by a Federal Republic of the World. That the many tribes of humanity will one day become one tribe, one race, One World.

I introduced myself to Scott's partner Emma Miniscalco afterwards -- who herself had offered us a few gorgeous memories of their private life together, accompanied by this heartbreaking soft guitar music played on a guitar a few feet away by one of Scott's students, written by Scott himself.

I promised her that all the people on this list would ensure that the many, many seeds planted by Scott Hoffman would someday sprout, and blossom, and flower fully, and reach for the sky.

Let's keep that promise, eh?

To Emma.

And to Scott.

tad

Submitted by Debbie (not verified) on June 29, 2012 - 7:59pm EDT

Just so you all know, Scott’s brother-in-law George uploaded 3 things to YouTube featuring Scott. Scott was interviewed by my Mom (when I got laryngitis and couldn't do it), and I think it was great to hear what a non-Washingtonian wants to hear about. She did great and so, of course, did Scott. Scott appreciated all of you and I’m sure he’s out there urging us to keep our eyes on the prize. Thanks everybody, Debbie Metke

Interview on World Fed. part 1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTrv5Amyqzs&feature=bf_prev&list=ULwtIRqK...

Interview on World Fed. part 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9l2wI28Nmg&feature=channel&list=UL

TRIBUTE TO SCOTT:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtIRqKnqPQ0&feature=channel&list=UL

About the author

Don Kraus

Don Kraus
Chief Executive Officer