Barbara A. Hoffman

Just had a vibe to look her up, only find that she had died. Many fond memories, many fond hangovers

Best Professor in English I ever had...lovely person...close to her in so many ways!
Fun!
She sent me a card with a WINTER MELON CUT IN 1/2.
"YOU LOOK JUST LIKE ME SAID ONE WINTER MELON TO ANOTHER".
I WAS HAPPY!
GOD BLESS

Shame on me for finding out so late that Barbara is gone. As I am preparing a new phase of my life I was sorting through old letters and found several from her. Seeking to connect I now find the connection irrevocably severed. The memories I shall treasure always.

Many memories of Barbara and sorrow at the loss of such a wonderful woman.

We will all miss you, we will miss how you provided us the opportunity to look at everything just a little differently. I recall the many wonderful times we shared in your special classroom. I pray I pass on your wonderful way of looking at life and the world to my children; as they grow, question and wonder about what else there could be.
Thank you for being a wonderful friend, mentor, and teacher for so many years.

Just today I found out that the universe had lost its brightest light.
It has been my honour to be in that circle of light for a few precious years. And 30 years later, you are still as alive in me as that first day at Maria Hall, when you changed me forever. Don't we all, her generations of students, feel that way... Somehow I can't think of you with sadness. There was just too much brilliance in your smile, too much generosity in your heart, too much panache for that.

What other class would EVER allow me to tout the virtues of Kermit the Frog? I had never had a teacher like Barbara, and doubt I ever will, again. My first vision of her was a petite woman, hair in pigtails, wearing denim overalls several sizes too big, and something akin to "war paint" on her face...lol. She made me want to read, and think, and consider, to come to class, and to discuss literature. To me it was the best possible book club! The House of Bernarda Alba, and Hedda Gabler...

Barbara,

Who hears me in the hierarchy of angels? Okay, so I paraphrased Rilke, but I know you do.

Thinking about your clown costume, I reminded of Picasso's harlequin. The mixture of happiness and sorrow; the bright of the whiteface and red mouth, the autumn hues of your clown costume.

This was you. While contemplating winter, you reveled in spring. You could do both.

I still have the syllabus. You even made syllabus a work of art, whether it had a...