Marvin Hoffenberg, a longtime Pacific Palisades resident, world-renowned economist and statistician and former UCLA professor of political science, died on December 30 at the golden age of 98. Born in Buffalo, New York, to Harry Hoffenberg and Jennifer Weiss, recent immigrants from Lithuania in the Russian Empire, Marvin was the third of four children. He saw Babe Ruth play in Erie, Pennsylvania, played tennis in high school, attended St. Bonaventure and earned two degrees from Ohio State University. He received his master’s of science the day in 1939 during which Hitler’s troops marched into Poland. Marvin’s career took him many places, including Washington, D.C., Japan, England, France, Norway and Southern California. That list would have included Germany, but the U.S. Army could not protect Marvin from both snipers and traps, as he was going to visit and evaluate aerial bombing damage in the months after World War II ended in Europe. Later, he returned to Europe to assist with the Marshall Plan for economic reconstruction of the war-ravaged continent. He was a man of peace who understood the necessity of war. Marvin worked in our nation’s capitol during the War and afterwards, regularly co-writing with a series of Nobel-winning economists he called his colleagues and friends. Most became lifelong friends. In D.C., Marvin also met and married Betty Stern, a fellow economist, who had graduated from Swarthmore and Columbia. Marvin worked at the Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor statistics; his young wife worked at the Treasury. One can only imagine the dinnertime conversations about currencies and balance of payments. Among his many accomplishments, Marvin is perhaps best remembered for developing the Input-Output Theorem, which provides a way to calculate what industry contributes to an economy, what goes out from such industry, and how the two are connected. That and other projects were part of the revolutions in economics, statistics and planning of the War and post-War generation. Such efforts also included contributions to the economics of disarmament and demobilization, arms control and the quality of working life, among other employment issues. Marvin took his expertise and family across country twice, finally settling back in the Palisades in 1964. He worked at Aerospace and Rand, when the latter was much smaller, but still in the same spot by the Santa Monica Pier. His understanding of public policy, bureaucracy and the budget, or where politics and economics meet, enabled him to teach scores of students about how government really works while at UCLA from the mid-1960s through 1985. Many of those students are now in government and academia, continuing his legacy. Marvin was active in the Palisades, coaching basketball, getting his hair cut at ‘Joe’s’ since 1964, enjoying sandwiches as Mort’s Deli went through various owners and sitting at the curb for the annual Fourth of July Parade. In later years, he sat on the benches at Palisades Park while his grandchildren played in the sandbox or played ball. Everyone seemed to know and chat with Marvin. Since retirement, Marvin also remained active in Southland public life, serving on various commissions, supporting Jewish and educational activities, continuing his connections with UCLA and notably serving as the Foreman for the Grand Jury for the Rodney King case in Los Angeles County. He remained a loyal Bruin fan and avid observer of politics. Marvin is remembered for his generosity of spirit and liberalism of thought, commitment to repairing the world, faith in knowledge and education, full participation in public life and the sparkle in his eyes. He lived the rich, challenging and fulfilling life of the 20th century, and beyond, never losing his faith in Humanity, about which, though, he was not na’ve. When in doubt, he turned to his family and the pleasure of being surrounded by books. His library found every corner and flat surface of the family’s house near the Santa Monica Mountains. Marvin often quoted poetry he memorized in school. Longfellow was among the cited poets. Marvin is survived by Betty, his beloved wife and best friend of 65 years; two sons, David of Oxnard, and Peter of Honolulu; his daughter-in-law, Saundra Schwartz, and three grandchildren, Elena, 18, Libby, 16, and Judah, 10. Memorial services will be held at Hillside Mortuary. Please call (800) 576-1994. In lieu of flowers, Marvin and his family request a donation in his name to the Jewish Community Foundation at the Jewish Federation Council of Los Angeles, 6505 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1200, Los Angeles, CA 90048.
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