'Ray's Way'
A touching tribute to the late Dr. Raymond Hoffman
by TERRI MEDINA Editor

Marcia Hoffman, wife of the late Dr. Raymond Hoffman, cuts the ribbon in front of the alley next to Taste, now known as "Ray's Way." Photo by Terri Medina

He had a passion for life. He was a friend to all. A family man with a wife, children and grandchildren. He was a lover of dogs and other animals. To many, he was a great man.

Friends and family came to the Taste coffee shop on Oct. 1 to pay homage to Raymond Hoffman, a former Williamsville resident and retired East Aurora dentist, whose life was cut short by a drunk driver late last year.

Taste owner Yvonne Evilsizor and longtime friends Martha and Brian Townson of East Aurora held a special dedication ceremony in which the Taste Alleyway was named "Ray's Way," and a plaque was placed outside the shop.

"He was a major part of this restaurant," said Evilsizor, of the man many referred to as "Doc." "He always came and helped out where he could, and we enjoyed having him here. He had a great outlook on life and an intense, dry humor."

Before Hoffman's untimely death, he and Evilsizor, along with the Townsons, had discussed installing a dog drinking fountain at Taste.

"We are all animal lovers, so it seemed like a great idea," said Evilsizor. "The day he passed he came in and told me, very excitedly, that he had an early Christmas present. He said he had found someone who could design the fountain for them. He was killed that night by a drunk driver. He never ended up telling any of us who that person was who would make the fountain."

Both Evilsizor and Martha Townson said they searched high and low for the next few weeks trying to determine who the mystery artist was. They never found out.

A memorial service was held for Hoffman on Dec. 9, 2006. Life for his friends, they said, has not been the same.

"He and his wife (Marcia) are great friends of ours," said Townson, who is known for her charitable causes.

"A group of friends that throw a party each year and pick a special charitable cause to contribute to had planned to make a donation to the East Aurora Tree Board for tree plantings (Hoffman was an active preservationist)," she said. "After he passed, we decided instead to raise contributions for this ceremony. We immediately thought of Taste and the alleyway."

Townson, who spoke about Hoffman and his family during the ceremony, said the dedication was somewhat selfish.

"It's really a selfish thing we are doing," she said. "It honors him, but it defies letting go. This is a gift to ourselves."

East Aurora Village Mayor David DiPietro presented Marcia Hoffman with a proclamation that read: Dr. Raymond Hoffman brought smiles to the Village of East Aurora while practicing dentistry. The Village is indebted to Ray for his years of services as a preservationist along with founding the East Aurora Rotary Tree Foundation, upon which he was a member. For many years he has been called the unofficial mayor of the Village of East Aurora. I proclaim Oct. 12, 2007, and every year thereafter, Dr. Raymond Hoffman Day in the Village of East Aurora.

Afterward, with her children and grandchildren at her side, Martha cut the ribbon and opened "Ray's Way" to the community. The plaque was revealed, as well as an alleyway sign.

Townson and Evilsizor never found out who that fountain artist was but were able to have one made by someone else. It, too, was revealed during the ceremony.

Moments later, the very first dog, Mulligan, a 10-year-old Lab mix being walked by owner Colleen Scott, stopped by for a drink. A sight Ray surely would have appreciated.

e-mail: tmedina@beenews.com