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Wednesday, July 6, 2016

DEATH OF PAULINE HOFFMAN



(Pauline Hoffman)

Pauline Hoffman, former National Director of Tape Aids for the Blind, passed away on June 27, 2016.

“She will be remembered for her tireless dedication and commitment to the Organization in establishing it as the largest reading service for the Blind in the Southern hemisphere,” says Elza-Lynne Kruger, Tape Aids National Director.

Pauline Hoffman was educated at Johannesburg Girls’ High School and the University of the Witwatersrand. She obtained a BA degree, majoring in English History and Communication. After studying Library Science, she completed an Honours degree in Communication.

She joined Tape Aids for the Blind in 1980 as the International Liaison Officer and pioneered and expanded the academic and vocational programmes for the organization. She was subsequently appointed as Development, Public Relations and Fundraising Officer.

In 1989, she was appointed as National Director of Tape Aids for the Blind and served until her retirement in June 2012.

She was as a member of the Executive Committee of the Natal African Blind Society and was the first woman president of the Rotary Club of Durban.

Tape Aids for the Blind produces audio books. Volunteers are auditioned and wherever possible the voice is cast and matched to the content and style of the book. Recording is done in soundproof studios in Durban, Johannesburg, Pretoria and Cape Town as well as three studios in Mamelodi on the University of Pretoria Mamelodi campus. The master tape collection now exceeds 50,000 titles and many well-known actors and actresses give freely of their time to record books.