Otto Hofmann

Otto Hofmann (December 9, 1918 – May 12, 2001) was a pipe organ builder and the first American president of the International Society of Organbuilders. Hofmann was born in Kyle, Texas on a cotton farm. He was the youngest of 10 children of German immigrants, Wilhelm and Frieda Hofmann. Otto attended Kyle High School and was valedictorian for his 1936 class. He received a bachelor's degree in Plan II and a master's degree in Choral Direction at the University of Texas. He was working on his doctorate when he was drafted. Being a conscientious objector, he was sent to Civilian Public Service Camp. After a brief marriage in the mid-1940s that resulted in two daughters, Helene and Pam, he returned to the family farm in Texas to resume his organ building career. In 1949, he traveled to Aspen, Colorado to hear Albert Schweitzer speak. There he met a young German woman, Margarete Schultze, who was helping Schweitzer with translation. She was a war refugee who had also traveled to hear Schweitzer speak. A year later, Otto invited her to Texas. He wanted to go to Germany to look up long lost relatives and she was homesick and wanted to return to Germany for a visit. In 1950, they were married in Berlin, Germany and Margarete Schultze became Margret Hofmann. They returned to Texas and had five children: Franz (1951), Barbara (1952), Anna (1956), Heidi (1960) and Stephen (1964). Over the years they accumulated many grandchildren and great grandchildren. In 1977, Otto and Margret divorced, but remained close friends until his death. Otto joined the Austin Friends Meeting (Quaker) in 1952 and was a central figure in the meeting until his death.