Phillip Hoffman
Encyclopedia
Philip Rube "Flippy" Hoffman (January 24, 1930 – November 10, 2010) was a legendary big wave surfing
pioneer and businesman.
.
Hoffman graduated from Hollywood High School
in 1948. Hoffman began surfing
off San Onofre, California.
In 1953 Hoffman was one of the first surfers to brave the outer reefs of the Oahu's North Shore
where he was a big wave surfing
pioneer. Hoffman first worked as an abalone
fisherman while he was not surfing.
In the late 1950s Hoffman helped run the family textile business Hoffman California Fabrics along with his brother Walter. The company had been started in 1924 by their father Rube Hoffman, originally selling woolen flannel fabrics. Hoffman oversaw the company's bsiness that sold directly to retail stores. He was also involved researching the production processes, and new designs.
Hoffman Fabrics was integral in creating and manufacturing surf apparel from the late 1950s onward.
In the 1980s the aloha shirt
worn by Tom Selleck
in the TV series Magnum, P.I.
was made from Hoffman fabric. It is now in the Smithsonian Institution
.
"When the surf was really big, he'd take off and go surfing," said his brother.
Hoffman worked with surfboard designers such as Mickey Munoz
, Hobie Alter
and Bob Simmons
to improve the design of surf boards.
Hoffman died November 10, 2010 at Mission Viejo, California
from pulmonary fibrosis
complications.
He was survived by his partner Suzy, brother Walter, daughter Dana, and son Marty.
His brother's daughter Joyce Hoffman
was a champion surfer, and great-grandson Greyson Fletcher
a professional skateboarder. Both he and his brother Walter were honored in the surfing walk of fame in 2006 for their contributions to surf culture
.
Big wave surfing
Big wave surfing is a discipline within surfing in which experienced surfers paddle into or are towed onto waves which are at least 20 feet high, on surf boards known as "guns" or "rhino chasers". Sizes of the board needed to successfully surf these waves vary by the size of the wave as well as...
pioneer and businesman.
Life
Philip "Flippy" Hoffman was born January 24, 1930 in Glendale, CaliforniaGlendale, California
Glendale is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. As of the 2010 Census, the city population is 191,719, down from 194,973 at the 2000 census. making it the third largest city in Los Angeles County and the 22nd largest city in the state of California...
.
Hoffman graduated from Hollywood High School
Hollywood High School
Hollywood High School is a Los Angeles Unified School District high school located at the intersection of North Highland Avenue and West Sunset Boulevard in the Hollywood district of Los Angeles, California.-History:...
in 1948. Hoffman began surfing
Surfing
Surfing' is a surface water sport in which the surfer rides a surfboard on the crest and face of a wave which is carrying the surfer towards the shore...
off San Onofre, California.
In 1953 Hoffman was one of the first surfers to brave the outer reefs of the Oahu's North Shore
North Shore (Oahu)
The North Shore, in the context of geography of the Island of Oahu, refers to the north-facing coastal area of Oahu between Kaena Point and Kahuku Point...
where he was a big wave surfing
Big wave surfing
Big wave surfing is a discipline within surfing in which experienced surfers paddle into or are towed onto waves which are at least 20 feet high, on surf boards known as "guns" or "rhino chasers". Sizes of the board needed to successfully surf these waves vary by the size of the wave as well as...
pioneer. Hoffman first worked as an abalone
Abalone
Abalone , from aulón, are small to very large-sized edible sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Haliotidae and the genus Haliotis...
fisherman while he was not surfing.
In the late 1950s Hoffman helped run the family textile business Hoffman California Fabrics along with his brother Walter. The company had been started in 1924 by their father Rube Hoffman, originally selling woolen flannel fabrics. Hoffman oversaw the company's bsiness that sold directly to retail stores. He was also involved researching the production processes, and new designs.
Hoffman Fabrics was integral in creating and manufacturing surf apparel from the late 1950s onward.
In the 1980s the aloha shirt
Aloha shirt
The Aloha shirt commonly referred to as a Hawaiian shirt is a style of dress shirt originating in Hawaii. It is currently the premier textile export of the Hawaii manufacturing industry. The shirts are printed, mostly short-sleeved, and collared. They usually have buttons, sometimes as a complete...
worn by Tom Selleck
Tom Selleck
Thomas William "Tom" Selleck is an American actor, and film producer. He is best known for his starring role as Hawaii-based private investigator Thomas Magnum on the 1980s television show Magnum, P.I.. He also plays Police Chief Jesse Stone in a series of made-for-TV movies based on the Robert B....
in the TV series Magnum, P.I.
Magnum, P.I.
Magnum, P.I. is an American television series starring Tom Selleck as Thomas Magnum, a private investigator living on Oahu, Hawaii. The series ran from 1980 to 1988 in first-run broadcast on the American CBS television network....
was made from Hoffman fabric. It is now in the Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
.
"When the surf was really big, he'd take off and go surfing," said his brother.
Hoffman worked with surfboard designers such as Mickey Munoz
Mickey Munoz
Mickey Munoz, born in New York City in 1937, is one of the early pioneers of surfing but is perhaps more famous for his work as a surfboard shaper. Munoz, a historical figure in the surfing world, has been featured in many popular surfing documentaries such as the 2004 film Riding Giants...
, Hobie Alter
Hobart Alter
Hobart "Hobie" Alter, born October 31, 1933, is a founding pioneer in the surfboard shaping industry, creator of the Hobie Cat, and founder of the Hobie company....
and Bob Simmons
Robert Wilson Simmons
Robert Wilson Simmons , better known as Bob Simmons, was an early surfing pioneer, and considered to be the father of the modern surfboard....
to improve the design of surf boards.
Hoffman died November 10, 2010 at Mission Viejo, California
Mission Viejo, California
Mission Viejo is a city located in southern Orange County, California, U.S. in the Saddleback Valley. Mission Viejo is considered one of the largest master-planned communities ever built under a single project in the United States, and is rivaled only by Highlands Ranch, Colorado, in its size...
from pulmonary fibrosis
Pulmonary fibrosis
Pulmonary fibrosis is the formation or development of excess fibrous connective tissue in the lungs. It is also described as "scarring of the lung".-Symptoms:Symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis are mainly:...
complications.
He was survived by his partner Suzy, brother Walter, daughter Dana, and son Marty.
His brother's daughter Joyce Hoffman
Joyce Hoffman
Joyce Hoffman is an American surfer, considered a woman's pioneer in her sport. She is often regarded as the first female international surfing star and was one the first inductees of the International Surfing Hall of Fame.-Biography:...
was a champion surfer, and great-grandson Greyson Fletcher
Greyson Fletcher
Greyson Fletcher is a professional skateboarder and actor.-History and Family:Greyson Fletcher was born March 8, 1991 in Orange County, California, but has since moved with his mother, Jennifer Fletcher, to Anaheim, California, to be closer to filming studios and locations...
a professional skateboarder. Both he and his brother Walter were honored in the surfing walk of fame in 2006 for their contributions to surf culture
Surf culture
Surf culture includes the people, language, fashion and life surrounding the art of surfing.The culture began early in the 20th century, spread quickly during the 1950s and 1960s, and continues to evolve. It affected fashion, music, literature, films, jargon, and more...
.
External links
- Philip Hoffman - In memoriam Hoffman Fabrics article