David Evans Hoffman, M.D.

January 24, 1953 – July 23, 2025

Dr. David Hoffman passed away doing what he loved — sailing — on July 23, 2025. 

Born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, on January 24, 1953, David was a devoted family man, a gifted surgeon and a storyteller, who never shied away from a good debate or a great adventure.

David was the son of Jane and Robert Hoffman and brother to Robin, Judy and Mark. His journey led him across the country in pursuit of knowledge, purpose and love. He met his college sweetheart, Dawn Grace Connell, at the University of Wyoming, and the two were married on June 1, 1974. He later graduated from UW and Creighton University School of Medicine in Omaha, Nebraska. He completed his surgical residency at a Yale-affiliated hospital in Connecticut.

Together, David and Dawn built a beautiful life and family, raising four children, Elizabeth Ann, Jack Tavis, Abigail Dawn and Thomas Morris. In 1989, they returned to Wyoming and settled in Riverton, where he opened his first medical practice. In 1994, the family relocated to Lovell, where David worked as the only doctor at North Big Horn Hospital. He opened his private practice in 2013 with his longtime nurse, Betty Snyder, where he worked until retirement.

David embraced life and was a true outdoorsman. He was an expert skier, archer and shooter. He was a water enthusiast and could be found every summer canoeing, kayaking, sailing, jet skiing or battling his boat on Horseshoe Bend. David loved motorcycles and could smoke a mean brisket. 

He was a poet at heart and later found his voice writing letters to the editor of the local paper that challenged norms. 

David’s legacy lives on in his beloved wife, Dawn; their children; and adored grandchildren Wesley, Evan and Erik Hoffman, Jon David and Julianna Schumacher and Olivia and Max Moody. He was a father-in-law to Derek (Elizabeth) Schumacher, Sabra (Jack) Hoffman, Zach (Abigail) Moody and Valeriya (Thomas) Hoffman. His warmth, wit and wisdom will be profoundly missed.

David was deeply loved, and his memory will continue to guide those who knew him toward lives filled with adventure.

A funeral service will be held Monday, August 4, at 2 p.m. at St. John’s Lutheran Church.

In loving memory of David, donations can be made in his name to the Lovell Library either in person or through their website, www.bhcwylibrarysystem.org.