Hoffmann remembered as innovative, dedicated

Dr. Joseph Hoffmann, a professor of arid land studies, died March 22 from respiratory failure. He was 51.

Hoffmann was employed at the University of Arizona for 23 years. During those years, he worked on many research projects, focusing on the economic and medicinal uses of plants native to the Sonoran desert.

He also taught classes in the College of Pharmacy and the department of arid lands resources.

Hoffmann received his doctorate in medicinal chemistry from UA in the 70s, and worked as a post-doctoral research associate with Dr. Jack Cole, his major adviser.

"He was with me for a long time," Cole said. "I could never get rid of him."

Cole remembered Hoffmann as a man who was good at finding creative ways to solve problems.

He also said Hoffmann was a conscientious student and employee.

"He had a demeanor about him that was quiet and comforting," said Ken Foster, the director of the Arid Lands Resources Center.

He said Hoffmann's deteriorating health over the past three to four years kept him from teaching or mentoring many students.

"We didn't see him as much, but he was always accessible by phone, e-mail or fax," said Tina Hayden, who had Hoffman as her doctoral student adviser until she graduated last August.

"He had an interdisciplinary approach to everything," she said.

Hayden said Hoffmann worked to meet the challenges of integrating the different aspects of science and current events.

"He had the most outstanding ability to work effectively with other researchers," said arid lands studies Professor Steve McLaughlin.

As a researcher, Hoffmann worked closely with McLaughlin on projects to develop native plants as alternative crops and for medicinal uses.

Hoffmann was very interested in growing plants in unusual ways, McLaughlin said.

Together, they grew plants outside of soil, misting them with a water-based solution to keep them alive. This allowed the researchers to find out what compounds were being produced in the roots and what medicinal uses they might have had.

Kathy Hoffmann, Hoffmann's wife of five years, said he was funny and had an offbeat sense of humor.

"He was a dedicated scientist," she said. "He was an extremely ethical human being."

The couple worked together to open Gentle Hands Center for Children, a preschool.

Kathy Hoffmann said she and her husband "believed in having safe places for good emotional care for children."

She said a garden will be planted at the center in her husband's memory.

It will display a variety of native plants to foster the children's interest in the environment.

A children's scholarship fund will also be created in memory of Hoffmann.

To contribute to the garden or to the scholarship fund, contact the Gentle Hands Center for Children located at 1410 E. Adelaide, 85719.