Von Hoff remembered for devotion to Batavia kids

Batavia's young people lost their biggest fan Sunday.

Since returning to his hometown 50 years ago, George Von Hoff spent his life with them -- at Quarry Beach when he was its director, as Santa Claus for many years in the little house on Wilson Street, as a superfan of Batavia Bulldogs basketball, teaching tennis at Memorial Park, and shepherding kids through Sunday school for 55 years.

Even the memorial fund for Von Hoff, who died Sunday at age 89, puts kids first: Mourners are encouraged to donate to the George Von Hoff Youth Fund at Bethany Lutheran Church, or to the Batavia Park District.

"George was my Sunday school teacher, my tennis coach, and just the nicest person that there ever was," said Marsha Schuster.

Von Hoff was a distinguished veteran of World War II, having served in the Navy; he survived the sinking of the USS Lexington. While recuperating at home in Batavia, he met his wife, Ann; they were married for 56 years, until her death in 1999.

Retiring in 1960 as a chief petty officer, Von Hoff returned to Batavia to raise his four sons. He worked for the Batavia school district as well as at the beach. He was the first director of the Batavia Park District when it formed in the late 1960s.

"He was so involved with the kids in our community," said his neighbor, Molly Hubbard. "He just loved them. Even when he built his house, he invited all the neighborhood kids to come and help. He taught them how to swing a hammer and they pounded on spare wood. I don't know how he stood all of the noise."

Von Hoff volunteered at Hesed House in Aurora. When he noticed that people were being turned away from the full shelter one summer, he raised money to buy tents to house the additional people.

"I'm not sure if people realized all of that he did for others," said Margaret Clark, former park district secretary. "Even his time as Santa Claus."

In 2003, Batavia High School named him its "Fan of the Year" for his unwavering support; he was known to travel with the basketball team on the bus to away games. And the Batavia High School tennis coach called on him in his 70s to be an assistant coach, helping teens perfect their skills in a sport Von Hoff learned on a three-day leave at a resort in Hawaii before war broke out with Japan.

Visitation is from 3 to 8 p.m. June 10 at Moss Family Funeral Home, 209 S. Batavia Ave., Batavia. His funeral is at 3 p.m. June 11 at Bethany, 8 S. Lincoln St., Batavia.

Von Hoff is survived by sons Bruce, Byron, Burt and Barry; eight grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; a sister; two brothers and an aunt.

Daily Herald correspondent Sammi King contributed to this story.