We are saddened to hear of the passing of Katherine “Kitty” Blood Hoffman. Hoffman has had a relationship with Florida State University and its predecessor institutions since the 1930s. She was a student, a professor, and an administrator during her time with the University and continued to be active after her retirement.
Katherine Blood Hoffman began attending Florida State College for Women in the 1930s, and graduated in 1936 with a degree in bacteriology. During her time at FSCW, Hoffman became president of the College Government Association and became a member of several student organizations, including Phi Beta Kappa, Esteren, and Mortar Board.
Hoffman graduated from Columbia University in 1938 with a master’s degree. She began working as faculty at Florida State College for Women in 1940 and became a professor of chemistry in 1973. From 1967 to 1970 Hoffman served as the Dean of Women for Florida State University. She also served as the president of the Faculty Senate from 1980 to 1982. She retired from teaching in 1984 and the Katherine B. Hoffman Teaching Laboratory was dedicated in her honor. In 2007, she was presented with an Honorary Doctorate of Science.
After retiring Hoffman served as a board member for the FSU Alumni Association and trustee for the FSU Foundation. She also serves as chairwoman of the Emeritus Alumni Society and co-chairwoman of FSU’s Sesquicentennial Celebration.
Hoffman and her husband established a major scholarship in chemistry, the $100,000 Katherine Blood Hoffman Endowed Scholarship in Chemistry. Hoffman also created the Katherine Blood Hoffman Endowed Lectureship in Environmental Chemistry Fund, the Hank and Prescott Hoffman Fund for Biological Research Conducted Toward Preserving the Wakulla River, the Katherine Blood Hoffman Symposia in the Liberal Arts Fund, the Katherine Blood Hoffman Scholarship Fund in Chemistry, and an Alumni Center Fund.
Katherine Hoffman paved the way for women in the sciences and set up many lasting initiatives to better science and the FSU community. She will be greatly missed.
Illuminations 