Dr. Julian Hoff Remembered
Julian Theodore (“Buz”) Hoff, M.D. passed away on April 16, 2007. After a seven month battle with acute leukemia, he died peacefully at home with the comfort of his loving family. Though his life seemed to be cut short, his was a life well-lived and he will be missed.
Dr. Hoff, wife Diane and his children Among the things that Buz valued most in his life were time with family and friends, teaching and helping others. He was a lover of music, literature, art, sports, and travel. He was known for his wonderful gift of humor and for being a great storyteller. He always had time to listen. He was a humble, generous, fair, and kind man who was loved by so many. His legacy is the impact on the many people he loved, helped, and taught throughout his life.
Dr. Julian Hoff is survived by his wife of 45 years, Diane (Shanks) Hoff. He is survived by three children, Paul Theodore Hoff M.D. (Donna Hoff, M.D.), Allison Munro Hoff M.A., and daughter Julia Anne (Michael) Haughey M.S.W. He leaves five grandchildren, Lauren Louise Hoff, Kiersten Diane Hoff, Kathryn Munro Haughey, Kelly MacKay Haughey, and Charles Theodore Haughey. He is also survived by his brother Harvey Hoff, nephew Brian Hoff, and niece Kristin (Hoff) Sinclair, and many loving cousins.
Julian Theodore Hoff was born September 22, 1936 to Harvey O. and Helen B. Hoff in Boise, Idaho. He spent his childhood years in Caldwell, Idaho where he spent his time working at his father’s lumber yard, playing baseball, and mastering the piano. In Boy Scouts, he achieved the rank of Life Scout. As a senior, he was elected student body president of Caldwell High School.
In 1954, he was accepted as an undergraduate to Stanford University where he received a baseball scholarship. He was accepted to medical school in 1958 at New York Hospital Cornell Medical School. During his first summer after medical school, he met his future bride-- Diane Shanks, a nurse at Sequoia Hospital in Redwood City, CA. They were married in Bellport, Long Island, NY on June 3, 1962.
After completing 2 years of general surgery training, he served as a Captain in the U.S. Army Medical Corps in Japan. In 1966, he began neurosurgery training under the mentorship of Dr. BronsOn Ray at New York Hospital. During this time, he developed his life long interest in science of brain edema and stroke.
Recognized as a rising star, Buz was recruited to University California San Francisco by Dr. Charles Wilson. With family in tow, the Hoff family moved west. The subsequent 11 years in San Francisco were the formative years of his academic career, during which time he was advanced to the level of full Professor (1978). Numerous scholarly publications an NIH grant and numerous teaching awards, built upon his growing legend as a “triple threat”—teacher, scientist, physician.
In 1981, Michigan once again beat Cal when they recruited “Buz” Hoff to chair the section of neurosurgery. Through his leadership, the division grew from a small solid core of four full-time faculty to a department with 18 clinical faculty and a fully supported laboratory with over 25 scientists investigating the causes and treatment of brain edema and stroke. The department is now recognized as one of the premier neurosurgery training programs in the country. During his 25 years as chairman, he has trained nearly 50 neurosurgeons.
The academic highlights of his exceptional career include continuous funding for research from the National Institutes of Health since 1971. He was named recipient of the Senator Jacob Javitz Neuroscience Award by the NIH on two occasions, the first in 1985 and the second in 1992. He has been President of three national neurosurgery societies, was Chair of the American Board of Neurological Surgeons and a member of the Residency Review Committee for Neurosurgery. Dr. Hoff was elected to the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences in 1999. He was awarded the Cushing Medal of the AANS in 1990 and the Grass Prize of the Society of Neurological Surgeons in 2001. He is an Honorary Member of the Society of British Neurological Surgeons.
Buz retired from clinical Neurosurgery in 2006. He enjoyed redirecting his energy and interest in Rotary and the First Presbyterian Church where he served as a Deacon.
Memorial contributions can be sent to:
The Caldwell High School Julian T. Hoff Memorial Scholarship Fund in care of the Caldwell Foundation for Educational Opportunity, Kathy O’Banon, 2311 Arlington Ave. Caldwell, ID 83605
Or to
The Boy Scouts of America
A memorial service was held at First Presbyterian Church in Ann Arbor, MI on May 19, 2007.
