Richard J. Hoffman was born in Los Angeles on July 25, 1912. He graduated from Garfield High School in 1928, and from Los Angeles Junior College in 1932. Hoffman received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Los Angeles State College in 1947, and went on to receive a Master of Science in advanced education from USC.

Hoffman worked as a printer from high school on. He taught starting in 1943 at Los Angeles City College and had his own printing office for many years in which he wrote, designed, and printed many of his own books. He married Ruth Janet Lofthouse on March 24, 1934 and went on to have three children and seven grandchildren. After teaching for many years, he retired from his job as a professor at California State University, Los Angeles. He died in Los Angeles on September 26, 1989.

He was a member of various associations and clubs, including the Columbian 415 Chappel (as a founding father), the Comma Club, Los Angeles (as a founding member), the International Typographical Union, Phi Delta Kappa, the Rounce & Coffin Club Los Angeles, the Typophiles of New York, and the Zamorano Club of Los Angeles.

He received many awards including the John Paul II Medal in a papal visit, state assembly recognitions, the International Graphic Arts Education Association President's medal (1958), Phi Delta Kappan of the year (1977), a scholarship for perpetuating printing technology education, and many others.