SARA WITHEROW HOFFMAN (SALLY)Sara Witherow Hoffman, PhD, died peacefully on December 19, 2014 at the Universityof Florida Shands Hospital in Gainesville, FL. Sally was born September 1, 1943 toRichard Thompson Hoffman and Marguerite Kinser Hoffman in Alexandria, LA. She wasa 1961 graduate of East High School in Memphis, TN. In 1966, Sally graduated withHonors with a BS in Physics from Southwestern at Memphis (now Rhodes College).She was the first woman to earn a degree in Physics from Southwestern at Memphis. In1968, she earned her Masters of Science from the University of Tennessee in Knoxvillefollowed by her Doctorate in Physics and Astronomy from the University of Florida inGainesville, Florida.Sally was a Professor of Astronomy and Physical Sciences at Santa Fe College inGainesville for 40 continuous years from 1974 until her death. It was Sally's goal tohave a state-of-the-art planetarium built on the Santa Fe Campus, and she wasinstrumental in the development of the Kika Silva Pla Planetarium which now serves theCollege and all of Gainesville. Sally enjoyed organizing outdoor astronomy viewingevents for the public throughout the year and was an active member of severalAstronomy and Physical Sciences organizations.She is survived by her brother, Richard T. Hoffman, Jr. and his wife, Elizabeth MimsHoffman of Collierville, TN; her nephew, Richard T. Hoffman III, and his wife, SarahShepard Hoffman; and a great nephew, Brooks Shepard Hoffman, all of San Rafael,CA.Plans for a memorial service in Gainesville are incomplete. The family requests anymemorials be made to Santa Fe College, 3000 NW 83rd St, Gainesville, FL 32606 or toChurch of the Holy Communion (Episcopal) at 4546 Walnut Grove Rd, Memphis, TN38117. Funeral Home Forest Meadows Funeral Home 725 NW 23rd Avenue Gainsville FL - 32609 US 352-378-2528