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Katherine B. Hoffman

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Katherine B. Hoffman
Born(1914-08-01)August 1, 1914
DiedJuly 18, 2020(2020-07-18) (aged 105)
NationalityAmerican
Other namesKitty B. Hoffman
Occupation(s)Chemist and academic administrator

Katherine "Kitty" Marie Blood Hoffman (August 1, 1914 – July 18, 2020) was an American chemist and academic administrator.

Education and career

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Hoffman was born on August 1, 1914, in Winter Haven, Florida.[1] She attended the Florida State College for Women (which later became Florida State University) for her undergraduate. She began her degree in 1932,[1] and finished with a degree in bacteriology in 1936.[2] She went on to Columbia University for a master's degree in chemistry, which she completed in 1938.[1]

Hoffman returned to Florida State College for Women in 1940, where she remained through its name-change to Florida State University and for the rest of her career.[1][2] She began as a chemistry instructor, and was promoted, reaching full professor in 1959.[1] She served as dean of women from 1967 to 1970,[2] in which role she eased restrictions placed upon female students.[1] She retired from the university in 1984, but remained active in university service during retirement.[1][2]

Awards and honors

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Upon the occasion of her retirement, the chemistry department of Florida State University named a laboratory building in her honor; it was rededicated to her in 2018.[2] Hoffman was awarded an honorary doctorate by Florida State University in 2007.[3][4]

Death

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Amid the COVID-19 pandemic in Florida, Hoffman died from COVID-19 in Tallahassee on July 18, 2020, at the age of 105, fourteen days short from her 106th birthday.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Traub, Alex (July 29, 2020). "Katherine Hoffman, 'Eternal' Florida State Figure, Dies at 105". New York Times.
  2. ^ a b c d e Dobson, Bryan (July 21, 2020). "COVID-19 claims life of retired FSU professor Katherine 'Kitty' Hoffman". Tallahassee Democrat.
  3. ^ Fairhurt, Libby (September 19, 2007). "FSU to confer honorary doctorate on legendary Professor Emerita Kitty Hoffman". FSU News. Florida State University. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  4. ^ Ensley, Gerald (September 19, 2007). "A Modest Legend: Kitty Hoffman to be Presented with an Honorary PhD". Tallahassee Democrat. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
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