Jim Hoftyzer, an advocate for sober driving, a Palisades High School supporter, and a former longtime Brentwood resident, passed away peacefully at home in Santa Rosa on July 20. He was 78. Born in Newton, Massachusetts, Jim attended high school at The Rivers School in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, and graduated as class valedictorian in 1948. After graduating from Harvard University, he immediately went on active duty in the U.S. Air Force. Between 1956 and 1963, Jim worked at both the National Broadcasting Company in San Francisco and at Book Production Industries, a Chicago-based publisher that assigned him a sales territory covering 11 western states. In 1963, he earned a sales territory assignment with the Angelica Uniform Company covering the Pacific Northwest. This proved to be a lifetime opportunity. He was transferred to Los Angeles in 1965 and retired in 1996 as Western Regional Vice President. In 1961, Jim met and married Linda Miles of Palm Springs. He and Linda became parents of three children: Cartie (1963), Ernie (1969), and Cal (1970). In 1978, Jim quit drinking and began a 31-year association with Alcoholics Anonymous. He and Linda hosted many ‘rovers’ meetings of the group in their Brentwood home. He also counseled countless others during his time in the program. After his son Cal and three other teenagers were killed in an alcohol-related car accident on San Vicente Boulevard in 1988, Jim spoke at local high schools, where he cautioned against the dangers of drinking and driving. Jim was a supportive father of his children’s swimming achievements at PaliHi, and also saw both of his sons attain the rank of Eagle Scout in Brentwood Troop 26. After Jim retired in 1996, he and Linda moved to Santa Rosa. He served for 10 years as director of the Northwest Textile Services Association, while also enjoying golf at the Santa Rosa Country Club, where he scored his first and only hole-in-one at the age of 74. Jim is survived by his wife of 48 years, Linda Hoftyzer; his daughter Cartie Beckett (husband Chris) of Portland, Oregon; son Ernie Hoftyzer (wife Stephanie) of Davis, California; grandchildren Lucile and Patrick Beckett; and his beloved dog, Bogie. In lieu of flowers, the family requests gifts be made to Canine Companions for Independence, P.O. Box 446, 2965 Dutton Ave., Santa Rosa, CA 95402-0446.
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