Chattles 'Chat' K. Hoffman Jr.

Chattles ‘Chat’ K. Hoffman, Jr., age 86, lifetime resident of High Bridge, NJ passed away on Saturday, March 26, 2022 at the Hunterdon Medical Center in Raritan Twp., NJ. 

He was born on June 26, 1935 in Somerville, NJ.  He resided in High Bridge, NJ for his entire life and was a proud native of the town.

He was the son of the late Chattles K. Hoffman Sr. and Lillian (Williams) Hoffman, and the husband of Marlene Joan (Dietrick) Hoffman, celebrating 62 years of marriage. 

Chat graduated in 1953 from High Bridge High School and from Rutgers University in 1958 with his Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration.  He was very active with the Rutgers Glee Club and the University Choir and remained friends with several Alumni for the rest of his life. 

Chat was a Tank Commander in the US National Guard. He received the Award for Merit, various military qualifications, and an Honorable Discharge in 1964.

He began his working career in his father’s coal/fuel oil business, ‘C.K. Hoffman’, assuming management in 1970, providing plumbing and heating installations and hardware to High Bridge and the surrounding areas until 1976. He and his wife Marlene owned and operated High Bridge Realty, a company of rental properties.  He was a true High Bridge Businessman and Entrepreneur, supporting the town he loved by donating land to be used as a Veterans Memorial Park in honor of his father and all veterans.  

Chat retired as the Supervisor of Buildings and Grounds at Voorhees High School, where he worked since the day the school construction started until his retirement in 1996. He was proud to be one of the first employees of Voorhees High School, and maintained the buildings and grounds as if they were his own.

Memberships included Host Masonic Lodge #6 F&AM (formerly Hobart) for over 60 years, serving as Worshipful Master in 1963, Grand Chaplain of State F&AM in 1993, and named Treasurer Emeritus in 2012.  He was a loyal member of the Order of the Eastern Star Hobert Chapter for over 50 years, serving 10 terms as Worthy Patron and as a NJ Grand Officer in 2007. His Masonic affiliations additionally included the Scottish Rite, Crescent Shrine, and Tall Cedars, for over 60 year memberships in each.

He was an active member of the North Hunterdon Rotary Club for 52 years, served as President, and achieved 31 years of perfect attendance. He was named a Paul Harris Fellow by Rotary International.

Chat served on the High Bridge Board of Education from 1959 to 1985 where he was Past Secretary and President.  He was on the board during the time of the High Bridge Elementary School construction, and was very instrumental in the planning and building of the school. 

Chat loved boating, traveling and going to the theater with his wife, especially shows on Broadway and at the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, NJ.  He was an avid High Bridge history buff. He enjoyed model trains, his second home in Forked River, NJ and all Philadelphia sports teams, especially the Philadelphia Phillies.  He loved working in his yard and could be seen riding his tractor on his property on any nice day. 

Survivors in addition to his loving wife include one daughter; Carole J. Snyder and her husband Robert J. Snyder of Ottsville, PA, and one grandson, Andrew C. Snyder, of whom he was exceptionally proud.  He is also survived by his sisters-in-law; Marjorie Dick of Phoenix, AZ and Beverly Biel and her husband Randy of Orlando, FL, and several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, god-children, and many close family friends to whom he was ‘Uncle Chat’. 

Chat was predeceased by one sister-in-law; Doris Bridge and her husband Alfred Bridge.

Calling hours will take place on Wednesday, March 30, 2022 from 4-8pm with Masonic and Eastern Star Services beginning at 7pm.  Funeral Service will be Thursday, March 31, 2022 at 11am.  All will take place at Scarponi-Bright Funeral Home, 26 Main Street, Lebanon, NJ 08833.  Interment at Lower Valley Cemetery in Califon, NJ will immediately follow the funeral service.

Those wishing to make memorial donations, kindly consider South Branch Emergency Services, PO Box 5265, Clinton, NJ 08809 or High Bridge Fire Department, PO Box 232, High Bridge, NJ 08829. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Chattles 'Chat' K. Hoffman Jr., please visit our floral store.