by Kate Wiegand and Loni Blandford

A son. A brother. A student. A United Students Government Senator. A husband. A coach. A father. A graduate of Buffalo State College. On Sept. 11, 2001 BSC lost a powerful member of its alumni.

Stephen G. Hoffman, 36, died when terrorists crashed a plane into Tower One of the World Trade Center, where he worked as a bond broker for Cantor Fitzgerald.

Hoffman, a native of Forest Hills, majored in economics both he and his twin brother, Gregory, graduated from BSC in 1986.

During his years at Buffalo State, Hoffman was not only active in many campus organizations, but also held a Senator's position in the United Student Government.

Hoffman's dedication and work ethic rubbed off on others.

Al Durcan, a class of '85 graduate and close friend of Hoffman's, said in a CNN 9/11 memoriam, "Stephen's passion for finance inspired me to take numerous finance courses in college."

Hoffman also met his wife, Gabrielle at BSC. "I loved it here. Stephen loved it here. This is where we met, here at school," said Gabrielle, while at a BSC ceremony dedicated to Stephen this past April. In 1986, Stephen and Gabrielle moved to Long Island, and eventually married eight years later. Five years later, their daughter, Madeline was born.

"Steve just loved being with kids," said his brother, Greg.

Which is probably why he volunteered as a coach for the Queens Falcons, a football team he co-founded in 1993. "He loved coaching them, he loved teaching them, and he loved teaching them to do the right thing," Greg said.

In a ceremony last April, a memorial plaque was dedicated outside the USG Senate Chamber. It read: "The world won't be the same without Stephen, but it's a much better place because he was here and cared enough to make a difference.

Among the many in attendance was his twin brother Greg who read a poem in memory of his brother and spoke of their time at BSC. "Buffalo State and the community of Buffalo was a home to us from 1982 to 1986. What better a way to pay a tribute to Steve then to come back where we spent a significant portion of our life."

A fund has been established for Hoffman's daughter Madeline. Donations can be sent to Gabrielle Hoffman, c/o The Madeline C. Hoffman Fund, 335 East Fulton Street, Long Beach, New York, 11561.

Published Sept. 10, 2002