Francis H. "Frank" Hoffman, 98, mechanical engineer

WHEN YOU threw a party for Frank Hoffman, you'd better step aside.

For his 98th birthday party at a daughter's home in West Deptford, N.J., 68 people crowded in, including family, friends and well-wishers.

And there was no doubt that many present had benefited over the years from this man's incredible generosity and concern for all those who needed his special brand of caring.

Francis H. "Frank" Hoffman, a mechanical engineer who kept the buildings humming for a number of Philadelphia companies, a passionate Phillies fan whose idea of a great time was chilling out on his patio in Crescentville to listen to a game, died Sept. 4. He was 98, two months from his 99th birthday. He was living in a nursing home in Woodbury, N.J.

Frank was born to Anna and Francis Hoffman in the Swampoodle section of North Philadelphia before the family moved to Crescentville, near the old Sears building. He graduated from Northeast High School when it was at 8th Street and Lehigh Avenue, later occupied by Edison High School.

He took engineering courses at night at Drexel University.

Frank worked for National Biscuit Co. from 1935 to 1954, and helped erect a building on Roosevelt Boulevard that he never occupied. He then went to work for the old Blumenthal Candy Co. before moving on to Kardon Industries, where he was chief engineer and vice president.

After Frank retired in 1984, he was called back to work part time, because his replacements didn't understand the building operations.

Frank was proud of his brother, Bill Hoffman, who played for the Phillies in 1939 as a lefthanded pitcher. Bill played in the major league for a year and pitched in the minors. He worked for the Wissahickon Water Co. and died in 2004 at age 86.

Frank married Davina "Sis" Whiteside in 1936.

They enjoyed hanging out at the Buck Hotel in Feasterville, where Frank held forth as the honored guest.

"He knew everybody and everybody knew him," said his daughter Patricia Casey, makeup editor for the Daily News. "He was a generous, family-oriented guy. He knew every bar in the city and liked to have a beer with his nephews."

When any family member, neighbor or friend needed a job, a loan or whatever, Frank was there. "He was always helping someone," his daughter said.

Frank was famous for his bean soup, and generously shared it with his family and sent batches to the firehouse in Lawndale where Patricia's husband, Harry, a retired firefighter, worked. "The firemen loved it," Patricia said.

He was also famous for the bow ties he wore whenever he got dressed up. In tribute, some of the men at his funeral wore his old ties.

Frank's wife died five years ago. Besides his daughter, he is survived by another daughter, Joan Boland; two sons, Thomas and James; a sister, Annamarie Senske; seven grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by another son, Frank.

Services: Were Saturday.

His death notice concluded: "In lieu of flowers, Frank would want you to treat yourself, or someone you love, to a night on the town and to remember him in a toast."