Jay Paul Hoffmann was born to Al and Marcy Hoffmann in Milwaukee, WI on June 3, 1952. He attended 21st Street School, Edison Junior High and Custer High School. During and after high school, Jay traveled the U.S. playing soprano bugle for the Chordalier and Vanguard Drum and Bugle Corps before attending Marquette University. While pursuing his B.S. in Political Science, Jay played trumpet with the Marquette Warrior Pep Band and the Motown Band, Sheer Soul.

After graduating from Marquette, Jay worked both in the foundry and as a security guard for Briggs & Stratton prior to enrolling in John Marshall Law School. In 1990, Jay graduated Cum Laude from that institution.

He dedicated the next 25 years to keeping violent criminals in prison. His law career started with the Office of the State’s Attorneys Appellate Prosecutors in Ottawa, IL before becoming an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Illinois where he specialized in capital criminal appeals. In 2007, Jay was selected to serve as a National Association of Attorney Generals Supreme Court Fellow. His service in this position included writing the amicus petition for writ of certiorari filed by Illinois and 18 other states in “Allen v Siebert” to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Jay left the office of the Attorney General to serve with the Office of the State Appellate Prosecutor for the Second Judicial District of Illinois. Tenacious, talented and tireless, Jay was honored to represent the People of the State of Illinois in every court of this state, while working at the State's Attorney's Appellate Prosecutor and the Attorney General of Illinois. A highlight of his career was his United States Supreme Court Fellowship with the National Association of Attorneys General. Jay was admired by his colleagues for his combination of intellectual rigor and generosity; while he worked on some of the most challenging cases in the office, he also assisted other attorneys on their cases. Jay was the consummate lawyer - passionate in his defense of justice, dedicated to mentoring young attorneys - with an analytical mind that amazed those who worked alongside him. There are no words for how much Jay will be missed.

In his free time, Jay dedicated his life to serving Christ through his service to others. He participated in humanitarian efforts in the countries of Peru and Haiti, and here in the United States in Mississippi. Jay was also very active in the Wheatland Salem UMC, serving in the church’s Cornerstone Choir, Faithful Men Choir, as an original member of the Special Friends program, and as a long-time volunteer at Hesed House, Habitat for Humanity, and Rebuilding Together Aurora. He was a member of the WSUMC Church Board and Chairman of the Leadership Development and Nominations Committee. He served as a Design Team member of “Serve the Community Day.” Jay was truly a “behind the scenes leader with a servant’s heart.”

Jay fought a long, courageous, and dignified battle with multiple bouts of cancer. He returned to his Lord on May 14, 2015. Jay Hoffmann is remembered for his love of history and political thought, sailing, music and his ability to do what was right even when it wasn't easy.

Services have been held.

Donations Information

For those who would like to leave a lasting tribute to Jay’s life, the family would prefer memorial gifts be made to Wheatland-Salem Church for the Vocal Music Dept. or to the American Cancer Society.