Hofler, Theodore

Description

Theodore Hofeller was born on December 31, 1910, in Buffalo, New York to Rena Gilberta Walter, age 29, and Eugene David Hofeller, age 27. He had a sister Margaret and a brother Gilbert.The census records show his family lived in Buffalo in 1920 and then lived in Pasadena, California, in 1930.

He married Bessie Israel Hofler on March 3, 1937 in Manhattan and they lived in New York City. Theodore was then working as a bookkeeper for a brokerage firm in the city. The couple had started a family and moved to Rye in 1940 and were living at 61 Greenhaven Road.

Theodore enlisted December 19, 1941 and served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. (SEE MUSTER ROLLS) He served as ships clerk aboard the USS Memphis. USS Memphis (CL-13) was an Omaha-class light cruiser, originally classified as a scout cruiser, of the United States

In January 1943, the cruiser flew President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s flag off Bathurst, Gambia, during the Casablanca Conference from 14 to 24 January. The President and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill outlined plans at that time for the invasion of Sicily and Italy.

Afterward, Memphis was once more on patrol duty against blockade runners, mostly off Bahia and Recife, Brazil. On January 16,1945, Memphis was flagship for Admiral Harold R. Stark, Commander, US Naval Forces in Europe. Before the end of January the cruiser had two important visitors: Fleet Admiral Ernest J. King and General of the Army George C. Marshall.

On 18 February, Memphis arrived at Algiers for President Roosevelt’s last Allied conference before his return to the United States. For the next eight months, she continued to receive distinguished leaders.

Theodore was honorably discharged September 13, 1946. By 1950, he had divorced and was working in Dallas ,TX as a stenographer. He later moved to LA Jolla, CA

Theodore Hofeller died at the (U.S. Consulate) Nice, France in December 1980 at the age of 70.