Joel Edward Hoffman, 78, of Bolton, Connecticut, passed away on Thursday, June 16, 2016 at St. Francis Hospital in Hartford, Connecticut with his family by his side. Joel was born to the late Wilfred and Blanche Hoffman, November 3, 1937, in Hazleton, Pennsylvania. He graduated from West Hazleton High School in 1955 and received a BS in Industrial Engineering and an AS in Electrical Engineering from Penn State. He lived in Massachusetts, worked at Otis Air Force Base, served in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve, and met his loving wife, Ruth A. Wilbur of New Bedford, after which they lived the last 48 years together in Bolton, Connecticut. Joel cared deeply about the well-being of the world, local community and his family. He volunteered often and widely including being stationed twice as a U.S. Citizens Democracy Corps volunteer advisor in Romania. Joel served his local community of Bolton for more than 20 years in elected and committee roles. He especially enjoyed time with his children and proudly supported them in local sports, community activities and their personal interests. He was passionate about his work including that with Data100, Nortel Networks and most recently Mergent International where he served as Director of International Sales. His work and personal travels, often with his wife, took him far and wide around the world. Surviving Joel is his immediate family: wife, Ruth; children, Joel M and Maureen, of Simsbury, Connecticut, and their children Andrew and April; Anne and Rob Montesi, of Simsbury, Connecticut, and their children, Jack, Luke and Ella; David and Elena, of Brisbane, Australia, and their children, Aidan and Ian; and his loving dog, Katie. Joel is predeceased by his precious dogs, Penny and Emily. Family and friends may call at the John F. Tierney Funeral Home 219 West Center St. Manchester on Tuesday, June 21st, from 5-8 p.m. Funeral service will follow at the funeral home at 8:00 p.m. Burial, at Bolton Center Cemetery, will be private and at the convenience of the family. Memorial donations may be made to The Heritage Farm Fund 222 Bolton Center Road, Bolton, CT 06043. For online condolences please visit www.tierneyfuneralhome.com.