MEMORIES OF PETE HOFFMAN

By Lualice Hoffman

Pete’s wife and life companion

Our first date was a blind date – something we neither wanted to do, but our roommates insisted. We were students at the University of Oklahoma. When Pete came to get me for our date I looked down a three-story spiral staircase and saw the most handsome man in the world! He told me we were going to a basketball game (he hated basketball). It was in walking distance and neither of us had a car, so there we were watching a game and having a blast. It was probably one of our most interesting and different yet fun and exciting dates that year. That was in November of 1949. When I first saw Pete, I knew that he was the man I would marry someday. We were married January 28, 1952. We had discussed everything you can imagine during that time, from how many children we wanted to where we would retire someday. Silly me, I even told him I would live anywhere, even in a tent, if it meant we would be together, and I really meant it. Well, we never lived in a tent, but we did live in some pretty scroungy places, but we were happy.

When we first married, we didn’t agree; I just agreed and things ran pretty smoothly. One day Pete told me he really would like for me to have an opinion about things. Oh my, was he ever sorry! After that, whenever we would have a fuss, he would get into the car to drive around the block to chill, but before he could leave, I’d run out and say “wait for me, I want to go too.” I don’t think he ever really understood I just wanted to be with him whether he was mad at me or not. But it worked.

Pete was not perfect. He had a temper, was impatient and opinionated, but meticulously organized. His shirts were hung facing the same direction, separated by color, length of sleeve and dress or sport. He never needed me to clean out his closet…he did mine. Pete was also very democratic raising our children. When we wanted to move to Eagle Mountain Lake, he let the children voice their opinions whether they wanted to build a home at the lake or in town. Of course, they wanted to stay in town, so that is what we did. After two left home, we moved to the lake. I kept telling him that was what we should have done in the first place.

We were so different. I always liked to be around people, he thought another couple was a crowd. I’m competitive and he was not. He didn’t like to win at games or even sailboat racing, because someone had to lose. He didn’t like the recognition of achievements, he wanted to stay in the background…yet his voice was heard at meetings when he felt it mattered. He supported several organizations trying to make a difference in the world. He worked hard back in the 60’s trying to make this a two-party state. He wanted that for his children and grandchildren.

Pete always had a love greater than the love he had for his family and that was for his God. He could not quench his thirst for learning, and his prayer life was of great importance. He would have maybe 5 or 6 books going at once, and would get up around 4:30 in the morning so he could have time with only his God. He would light many candles and sit and pray/meditate and read until around 6:00 when he would bring me a cup of coffee. I don’t drink coffee anymore.

I am thankful that I wa chosen to be his wife as long as I was, nearly 51 years.

A strange thing happened at home when he died; his alarm clock stopped on the exact time – hour and minute. I keep it there just to remember.