Secretaries

A 57-year-old secretary to incoming Orange County Supervisor Jim Silva was discovered stabbed to death at the entrance to her townhome, authorities said Saturday. Arlene Michele Hoffman, who began work Dec. 1 as a member of Silva's transition team, was found dead of a single stab wound in the chest about 7 p.m. Friday, after Silva asked Orange County sheriff's deputies to check on her welfare. Silva said he had become concerned about Hoffman after she failed to appear for an 8 a.m.

There is no way to do justice to the memory of Arlene Hoffman, her childhood friends say, no way to express the loss of such a gentle, strong woman. At 57, she was valiantly trying to get on with life after burying her husband of 40 years. She was a shark at Scrabble and helped her friend throw an 80th birthday party for his neighbor because "hey," she said, "I'll be the youngest woman there!"

I am sure the hearing scenario was well-planned. I have never before seen so many ugly old men surrounded by such lovely young women! Pure Hollywood! Aren't there any plain middle-aged clerks and secretaries in Washington, D.C.? MARGARET L. McANALLY Lancaster

About the top chief executives who are computer illiterate ("Top Execs Visit a World That's Alien to Them," March 11), maybe they have a case of "mental block" about using computers, since they are glorified typewriters--relegated to secretaries. What a great leveler! NANCY V. HOSKINS Pasadena

Five former secretaries of state and defense urged the Bush Administration today to push hard for a nuclear weapons reduction treaty with the Soviet Union and to show restraint in developing space-based defenses. A report signed by 11 ex-officials, including the five secretaries, concluded Soviet President Mikhail S. Gorbachev is more inclined than any of his predecessors to reach accords with the United States that further Western interests. But James Schlesinger, who was secretary of defense in the Richard M. Nixon Administration, criticized the Soviet leader for agreeing last week to resume arms aid to Iran.