WLKM Radio 95.9 FM
Bruce E Hoffman, (a.k.a. Bruce Ryan), age 63, of Cleveland, went home to be with the Lord on August 26, 2011, after losing his nine month battle with cancer. He was born July 6, 1948, in Three Rivers, to Robert Hoffman and Margaret Welty. Bruce attended Immaculate Conception Schools for eight years and graduated from Three Rivers High School in 1966. He then attended Central Michigan University where he became interested in broadcasting.
Bruce started his radio career at WLKM in 1965, and worked at the station until 1969, and then went to work at WKMI from 1970 to 1971. He later worked for WGAR (1979-1981), WZZP-FM/ WLTF-FM (1981-1995), WGAR-FM (1997), and radio and TV commercials. He was the Education Director for the Ohio Center for Broadcasting in Cleveland (1996-2011) and National Education Director for the Ohio and Illinois Centers for Broadcasting with schools in Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, Denver and Chicago.
He had a strong interest in the excellence of broadcast education in Ohio and established The Bruce Ryan Scholarship Program with his family to help students realize their career dreams of working successfully in the electronic media industry. He cherished spending time with his family and his two dogs, Hitchcock, a rescue Shepherd Boxer from the Berea Animal Shelter, and Meily. He was an avid model railroader, who also enjoyed watching trains in Berea and Olmsted Falls, and traveling by train. He restored a private Pennsylvania Railroad car (1984-1989) that was leased for Cleveland Browns tailgate parties and Cleveland Indians opener baseball games.
Bruce was an Ohio High School Athletic Association Baseball and Football Official (1995-1999). Beloved husband for 41 years to Carol (Reeder) (a.k.a. Tracy St. John) who was also his partner on radio for 27 years; proud father of Amy (Hoffman) Sheridan and Carly Hoffman; loving grandfather to Hannah Sheridan, Nathan Sheridan and Ryan Schaefer, devoted brother to John Hoffman and sister, Marian Hoffman. Bruce was a man of great faith, believing that every day was a gift. He pounded the kitchen table and podiums at the schools, determined to instill his passion for life and work in others because his main concern was always for them and not himself. When asked how he was, he always responded “I don’t have any complaints,” even when he was experiencing excruciating pain. He greeted everyone with an enthusiastic “Happy ____________ !” (Fill in the day of the week.)
Bruce was an inspiration to his family, friends, coworkers and students. Funeral service, 10 a.m., Saturday, September 3, 2011, at The Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, 8235 Memphis Avenue, Brooklyn, Ohio. He will be laid to rest at Sunset Memorial Park 6265 Columbia Road, North Olmsted. Memorial contributions in his name are suggested to the American Cancer Society and the Berea Animal Shelter.
