Curtis Hoff Still Remembered at Holy Rosary

By Christopher Waltz

Posted 7/3/13

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Curtis Hoff Still Remembered at Holy Rosary

Posted Wednesday, July 3, 2013 1:00 am

By Christopher Waltz

It’s been nearly 15 years since Curtis Hoff collapsed and died walking into his first-grade classroom at Holy Rosary School. Yet, the 6-year-old’s spirit continues to live on in the community. A plaque just inside the main entrance to the school, a corner of the library featuring books donated in honor of his memory and a secluded area named for him at Holy Rosary Cemetery are all examples of how those who never met or knew Curtis have come to know of him. “My biggest fear was that everyone was going to forget who Curtis was, and they didn’t,” said Marilyn Hoff, Curtis’ mother. In fact, Curtis’ classmates, many of whom are working to finish college, every year never forget his birthday, May 2, or the day he died, Oct. 23. Following her son’s death, Marilyn continued to be involved with Curtis’ classmates by attending class parties and going with the students on field trips. “I wanted the memories,” Marilyn said. “I didn’t have the child, but I wanted to be part of his friends’ lives. “He truly loved his friends,” she added, noting that when the time came for the students to prepare for the sacrament of confirmation, many of them asked Marilyn to be their adult sponsor. Last Friday, students at Holy Rosary participated in the an annual fund-raiser for the American Heart Association.Andrea Romaker, Marilyn Hoff’s close friend, combined two programs, “Jump Rope for Heart” and “Hoops for Heart,” to raise the school’s donation this year. During gym classes, students were given the choice of doing jump-rope related activities, Hula Hoop activities or shooting basketballs.A total of $300 was raised for the American Heart Association, Romaker told The Record. “This was a pleasant surprise,” said Marilyn, who was on the Holy Rosary staff for 11 years as a bus driver and cafeteria worker. “These students were my babies, too.”As a thank you to the students for their efforts, Marilyn brought ice cream — Curtis’ favorite treat — which was given to the 92 students at Holy Rosary during the lunch period Friday, March 1. The complete story will be found in the March 7 edition of The Record.

Marilyn Hoff, center, shows her necklace to two students at Holy Rosary School. The pendant features a picture of her son, Curtis, who collapsed and died entering his classroom Oct. 23, 1998. Curtis' death was caused by a rare and undiagnosed condition called idiopathic hypertrophic cardiomypathy. The back of the pendant features Curtis' name written in his handwriting.

Curtis Hoff Still Remembered at Holy Rosary

Curtis Hoff Still Remembered at Holy Rosary

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Curtis Hoff Still Remembered at Holy Rosary

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Curtis Hoff Still Remembered at Holy Rosary