Berks County Bar Association The Berks Barrister Summer 2020 - 26

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In Memoriam
John A. Hoffert, Jr.
John A. Hoffert, Jr. 90, passed away
on April 20, 2020. Mr. Hoffert
graduated from Albright College
and then Dickinson College for his
law degree. Mr. Hoffert passed on
entering the FBI, but did serve his
country during the Korean War as a
Supply Sergeant at Camp Stewart,
GA. Mr. Hoffert practiced law in
Berks County until recently in his
late 80s. Mr. Hoffert served in
the District Attorney's Office, but
was best known for the practice he formed, Hoffert & Klonis,
PC. In addition to his private practice, Mr. Hoffert also served
as a counselor, solicitor and professor at Albright College and as
a solicitor for numerous townships, boroughs, authorities, the
Laureldale Cemetery and the Rajah Shrine. Mr. Hoffert was truly
the last of the country gentleman attorneys; traveling to clients
that could not get in to see him and also holding open hours for
any client that wanted free advice in the evening at his Shillington
office. Mr. Hoffert was a beloved member of the Rajah Shrine, a
32nd degree Mason and a past director of the Allentown Court,
Royal Order of Jesters. He was also an avid hunter, fisherman and
golfer. Mr. Hoffert also served as the President of the Little Kings
Gap Hunting & Fishing Lodge in Carlisle, PA. Mr. Hoffert will be
remembered as the icon of Court Street and will be missed for his
charismatic personality and storytelling. Mr. Hoffert is survived by
his wife, Deone, his daughters, Susan and Diana, and his son, John.
His also survived by his grandchildren and great grandson.

Jack A. Linton
Jack A. Linton, 83, passed away
on February 5, 2020. Mr. Linton
graduated from Albright College
in 1958, then received his Juris
Doctorate from New York University
in 1961 and a Master of Laws in
Taxation from New York University
in 1966. Mr. Linton was admitted
to practice in Pennsylvania in 1962,
whereupon he set up his law practice
in Reading focusing on tax and
estate affairs. Mr. Linton formed the law firm known as Linton &
Distasio, LLP, which thrived for over 50 years. Mr. Linton was an
26 | Berks Barrister

avid sports fan and also committed to helping people, supporting
the arts and education and being an ambassador for the City of
Reading. During his career, Mr. Linton served the community
through multiple terms as the Solicitor for the City of Reading, as a
committee member for the Berks County Chamber of Commerce,
as a member of the national Small Business Association and as a
board member for both the Exeter and Governor Mifflin School
Districts. He also loved the music of the Beatles, walking and the
art work of Thomas Kincade. Mr. Linton is survived by his former
wife, Nancy, his sons James and John, his daughter Ann, and his
grandchildren William, Alexandria, Patrick, Elizabeth and Pierce.

Donald F. Spang
Donald F. Spang, 97, passed away on
April 20, 2020. Mr. Spang graduated
from Reading High School in 1940.
He then attended Albright College
from 1940 - 1943. In June 1943,
Mr. Spang was drafted into the 105th
U.S. Naval Construction Battalion
(Seabees) and he served in the Pacific,
New Guinea and in the Invasion of
Leyte in the Phillippines until he
was discharged in 1946. Mr. Spang
graduated from Dickinson College in
1948 with a Bachelor of Law degree.
He served a six-month clerkship
under John Moss, Esquire, at the law firm of Richardson, Moss and
Richardson. He passed the PA Bar exam in the summer of 1948
and was admitted to the Berks County Bar in December 1948. Mr.
Spang practiced law in Berks County for over 50 years, last working
at the law firm of Merkel & Spang. In 1998, Mr. Spang received
an award from the Pennsylvania Bar Association and the Berks
County Bar Association and a commendation from the PA State
Legislature for his 50 years of public service as a lawyer. In addition
to working at his law firm, Mr. Spang was also an Assistant County
Solicitor for the County Commissioners, a Hearing Officer for the
PA Department of Labor, Solicitor for the Redevelopment Authority
of the City of Reading and the Berks County Board of Elections, the
designated attorney for the Farmers Home Administration in Berks
County and an Arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association.
Mr. Spang was active in the Republican Party, including running
for District Attorney in a primary election, for Berks County Court
Judge in 1977 and as a Republican candidate for U.S. Congress in
1954 during the Eisenhower administration. He also served as First
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Berks County Bar Association The Berks Barrister Summer 2020

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