Thomas Romaine Hoff

A Celebration of Life for Cortez resident Thomas Romaine ‘Tom’ Hoff will be held from 2 – 4 p.m. on Wednesday, October 21, 2020. A formal tribute to Tom’s life will take place at 3 p.m. (Please call the funeral home for the location.)

Thomas Romaine Hoff was born September 30, 1944 in Minneapolis, MN, and passed away on October 11, 2020 at Southwest Memorial Hospital in Cortez, CO at the age of 76 while recovering from a heart attack.

Tom is survived by wife Therese Ann Hoff; daughter Aubrey Melissa Hoff Martinez and husband Pedro Martinez Osorio; step-sons Benjamin Nicholas Dykes and Adam Matthew Dykes; grandchildren Dylan Antonio Martinez, Merick Thomas Martinez and Logan Rafael Martinez. He was preceded in death by mother Marian (Thompson) Hoff, father Romaine Starry Hoff and son Thomas Romaine Hoff II.

Tom loved sports, becoming a hockey goalie star at Edison High School in Minneapolis, and the University of Minnesota. He continued playing in leagues to age 46. He accomplished his third-degree black belt in Judo, competing into his mid-30s. He also managed the Minnesota Judo Association and Minnesota Olympic Committee in the 1970-80s.

Tom’s diverse interests and many talents lead to varied careers in population genetics research projects at the War Memorial Blood Bank (Minneapolis), as a commodities broker with John G. Kinnard (Minneapolis), and mortgage loan officer positions in Minneapolis and Denver, CO. He retired in 2006.

After moving to Denver in 1991, he became an active member of the Colorado Archaeological Society (CAS), Denver Chapter. He held various board positions before becoming President of the state organization (2003-2004) and Executive Secretary (2006-2017). He enthusiastically promoted CAS and its mission to all who would listen.

After moving to SW Colorado in 2006, he continued his passion for archaeology, getting good and dirty at active excavations at Champagne Spring, Mitchell Springs, Wallace Ruin, and other sites. The camper was always at the ready for back-country exploration of rock art and ruin sites.

Known for outdoor sports (skiing, fishing, hunting, camping,4-wheeling), he also willingly shared his extraordinary handyman skills, was out-going, fun-loving and wielded a funny, dry wit.

Tom fought valiantly to recover from his heart attack but was taken from us suddenly, long before his time. His family and many friends will grieve his passing for a very, very long time.