Tribute Wall
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Walt Jaschek uploaded photo(s)
Tuesday, January 17, 2023
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Gary Hoffman was a fellow cartoonist and staffer on The UMSL Current newspaper in the mid-1970s. Gary’s long-running comic strip “The Elf Squad” charmed readers weekly for years, and the paper’s year-end party/roast in 1975 was named “The Elf Awards” in the strip’s honor. That annual celebration became a tradition for Current staffers for decades, I later learned, and retained its elfish moniker -- long after the strip ceased publication. Crazy and wonderful.
Gary was also, to my appreciation, the “inker” over my pencils on the first few installments of my (so very) dramatic comic, “Christopher McKarton,” a detective story set primarily in the school's old, gothic (and soon razed) Administration Building. In this page from the September 5, 1974, issue, we can see both strips as they were printed. A lot of Gary goodness there.
Though we lost touch after college (regrettably easy to do pre-internet,) I see from Gary’s tribute page that he stayed creative and touched many with his humor and heart.
RIP to the Head Elf.
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Regina Engelken posted a condolence
Monday, January 2, 2023
I also met Gary through the UMSL Current, the student newspaper at the University of Missouri-St Louis. He drew a weekly comic strip for our paper called "Elf Squad." At the end of one school year, the Current staff had Elf Squad shirts made. I just noticed last week I still have mine in the back of my closet! I remember Gary as a "mellow fellow" who got along well with everyone. I am happy to read other comments on this page of his adventures after UMSL.
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Susan Gerding Bader posted a condolence
Saturday, December 31, 2022
I met Gary at UMSL. I was a freshman French major, and he was a junior, I think. My high school friend, Regina, was the editor of The Current and asked me to do proof reading. I met Gary as we both hung around The Current office a lot. Gary was smart, funny, and had an interesting view of the world. One spring he, Nancy, and I went to the Lafayette Square house tour. I had a great time and I think they did, too. After I graduated, we kept in touch via Christmas cards. His were something special that my husband and I always looked forward to. We reconnected early in 2022 and had a lovely long phone call in February, catching up. Just this fall, I thought "Gosh, I need to email Gary and set up another phone call. Neither of us is getting any younger." I learned of Gary's passing today, December 31st, when my Christmas card was returned as undeliverable. I'm so glad I reached out earlier this year. I wish I had done it sooner. My condolences to his family. He spoke of being close to his niece. I'm glad he still had family after Nancy was gone.
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Michel David Lowe posted a condolence
Thursday, August 18, 2022
I met Gary at the Current, the student newspaper at UMSL where we were both math majors in 1972. We took third semester calculus together the summer of 1973 where we would try to keep each other from falling asleep (mostly me) then run home to "watch John Dean spill the beans" as Gary put it during the Watergate hearings. Gary drew a weekly comic strip for the Current called The Elf Squad and he even featured me in one or two strips. I dropped out in '75, got married, got divorced, got married again, moved to DC and, needless to say, we lost touch. I moved back here to St. Louis in 2012 and reached out to Gary. He remembered me but we never hooked up again. I read his ham radio columns and followed him through his writings. I was sad when Nancy passed and I am even more diminished by Gary's passing. Know that you are in my prayers, Ross, and my condolences go out to his friends and family. Regards, Michel Lowe
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Terry Hoffman posted a condolence
Tuesday, August 2, 2022
Gary is my big brother and it's still difficult to realize that he's gone. I think it will finally hit me when my birthday comes and I don't receive a lovely card, and no clever card drawn by him at Christmas. My comfort comes from believing that he is reunited with Nancy and their dogs. It's lovely to read that he meant a lot to several people, a side to him that I didn't know as we lived in different states. I miss my big bro.
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Ken Griffin posted a condolence
Saturday, July 30, 2022
I’m sad to find my buddy Gary has passed away. He was a native to Savannah and his dad owned a TV repair shop here years ago. Gary and I have passed many an email and telephone discussion about his time in Savannah and the St. Louis area ARES organization. We never actually had an ON THE AIR QSO, but we’re friends. We will all miss his blog terribly as we have all “been there sometime “. He could sum it up better than most and keep you laughing! You will be missed OM
Ken, W4JKG
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PATRICK J WALL posted a condolence
Wednesday, June 1, 2022
I met Gary through amateur radio and ARES. He was not only a fellow ham but a friend. He lived a few blocks from me and I can remember driving down the street and seeing his antennas.
Rest in Peace Gary,
Patrick Wall KB0CCN
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Art lit a candle
Monday, May 30, 2022
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When I first got into radio and met Gary, I had no idea what a wealth of knowledge and understanding Gary had. He has been a friend and mentor to me and I will also remember him for being there. We will miss you. Rest peacefully.
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James Svaglic posted a condolence
Thursday, May 26, 2022
Gary,
Your key may be silent but you never will be forgotten.
73
de N0VXM
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Steve Wooten posted a condolence
Wednesday, May 25, 2022
I met Gary in 2004 through amateur radio. He has been a great friend. He was always there to help and lend you his ear to listen. Through the years he built our Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) website from the ground up to what is today, a wealth of knowledge and information. I will miss him. Rest in peace, Gary. Steve Wooten
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Jeff Fields KF0CTR uploaded photo(s)
Wednesday, May 25, 2022
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Gary was a new friend to me, as we had just met at the 2021 ARRL Field Day. After each personal encounter throughout the year our friendship grew closer and I increasingly looked forward to future activities together. As I followed Gary’s “Amateur Amateur” blog and researched Gary’s many technical papers on Google, I marveled at his intellect, expertise and knowledge on so many diverse topics. I will miss my new friend dearly. Rest well my friend until we meet again.
Jeff Fields KF0CTR (St. Louis Metro ARES)
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Bob Gale posted a condolence
Wednesday, May 25, 2022
I have known Gary for more than 10 years through amateur radio. He was always a friendly face and ready to help others. He will be deeply missed by the amateur radio community in St. Louis.
