In loving memory of

Grant C. Hoffman
March 21, 1950 - July 4, 2017

Grant C. Hoffman, age 67 of Napa, CA passed away on July 4, 2017 in a boating accident in Monument Bay, Ontario, Canada while doing what he loved--fishing with his best friend. Grant was born on March 21, 1950 in Wausau, WI, the son of Carlton and Janet Hoffman. Married to Catherine Budd Hoffman for 30 years, they had one son, Benjamin, who is now 22 years old.

Grant began his first career in high school, working alongside construction workers in his family's firm, the Hoffman Company, based in Appleton, WI. Following college (UW-Eau Claire; 1973) Grant continued with the company, which built mostly commercial and public buildings at the time. There he rose over the years to the firm's presidency. By the time he left the Hoffman Company, the firm had added an architectural partner and expanded to include residential building, allowing them to both design and build.

After completing an MBA (Arizona State University; 1989) Grant began his second career in finance with Citibank. His early positions there included directing Citibank's credit card operations in Baltimore, MD. Success meant moving, and Grant and his wife moved to San Francisco in the early 1990s so that he could assume responsibilities of setting up Citibank operations there. In 1995, Grant moved on to the rapidly growing Silicon Valley Bank, based in Santa Clara, CA, where he quickly rose to Sr. Vice President for Strategic Planning. While he loved his work there and his colleagues, the pace of Silicon Valley did not allow much time with his toddling son. Rather than leave the bank, he agreed to try financing within the wine industry.

Moving to the Napa Valley, Grant began lending and relationship building with what were mostly family-run wineries and vineyards at the time--people with whom he had much in common. Over time, many of these wineries grew and his clients were or became world leaders in premium wine-making. He excelled in customer relations and loved it. Grant "retired" in 2012 for a year and missed the people so much, he returned to consult in the field, and then when recruited by Bank of the West in Napa (part of BNP Paribas), he returned full-time with no plans of retiring soon.

Grant was an outdoorsman from childhood on; fishing and hunting honed his respect and love of nature. Later golf got under his skin and provided years of frustrating growth. A serious hike was one thing he never said no to on a weekend afternoon at home or while traveling. A seasoned traveler, hiking was always part of the trip, from the Canadian Rockies to the Swiss Alps.

Grant Hoffman is survived by his wife Cathy (Napa, CA) and son Ben (Evanston, IL), his father Carlton Hoffman (Land O'Lakes, WI), one brother Gary (Hugo, MN), and two sisters Bonnie Martineck (husband Gary of Bella Vista, AR) and Carol Burton (husband Bob of Elkhorn, WI). Other family especially dear to him included Rose Hoffman (Madison, WI) and his many nephews and nieces. Grant was preceded in death by his mother, Janet Hoffman.

A "Celebration of his Life" will be held in Madison, WI on July 23, 2017. Another Celebration will be held in Napa, CA in late August.

Tributes

Jennifer Smith wrote on Jul 19, 2017:

"Oh Cathy, I am heart broken for you and Ben! I heard this tragic news and my heart just sank. I wanted to reach out to you and let you know that there isn't anything I can say that will ease your pain, I share your heart ache. Please know you and Ben are in my heart. My sincerest condolences! Jennifer Smith"

Kevin Vesperman wrote on Jul 19, 2017:

"Cathy, my condolences. I cannot imagine your loss. Kevin Vesperman "

Darcee Neudecker wrote on Jul 19, 2017:

"Cathy (and Ben) - I am so sorry for your loss and know first hand how hard this is! I am glad however that we were able to spend some time with you and Grant, ever so briefly, down in Costa Rica a few years back when we all shared time together at a family wedding. He was a wonderful man and was a joy to be around! I will pray for your continued healing moving forward. May God Bless you both! Darcee Neudecker"

Penny Northrop wrote on Jul 17, 2017:

"Grant was the ultimate Gentleman. I remember one day I kept hearing a noise by my desk but didn't see anything or anyone about 3 times in about 2 min. then someone walked in the door and was looking down towards the floor so I got up and looked to see what he was looking at and there was Grant...I have a drawer that everyone goes to full of chocolate candies and Grant was trying to see if he could sneak some chocolate without me seeing him....we laughed so hard at that. All you had to say is "doesn't it feel like a donut morning?" and off he would go getting the office donuts! he would come in early to work and would empty the dishwasher for me! He was the most thoughtful person I know and the sweetest. We lost someone very special and my heart goes out to the family. Penny"

Lisa Chiapetta wrote on Jul 17, 2017:

"Grant was always smiling when you saw him at work at Silicon Valley Bank. His soft and gentle voice said it all. My sincere condolences to you all. Lisa Chiapetta"

Maureen and Ned Trippe wrote on Jul 17, 2017:

"Dear Cathy, It is so impossible to know what to say. We are sending love and prayers. We are checking in on Muffin every day to make sure she has food and water, and we know that would have please Grant very much. With all sadness in our heart, Maureen and Ned Trippe"

Diane Dodge Bianchini wrote on Jul 16, 2017:

"Always an educator, always a friend, always a gentle, kind spirit. Cathy and Ben our prayers are with you. "