Enquirer writer, Royals PR man Steve Hoffman inspired many
By Rebecca Goodman
Enquirer staff writer
O'BRYONVILLE - Steve Hoffman once said he was fortunate in life to have had two jobs that he loved: publicity director for the Cincinnati Royals, and television/radio critic for the Enquirer.
He applied for a reporter position at an Illinois newspaper right out of college, only to be told by an editor he would never make it as a journalist - because he was 4-foot-6.
"All you had to do was say to Steve that you'll never make it - and he would," said Emil Dansker of Wyoming, a former Enquirer reporter.
Mr. Hoffman - a former police reporter and sports writer as well as TV/radio critic for the Enquirer - died Monday at Good Samaritan Hospital. He was 74.
"He just lived the most remarkable kind of life that you can imagine - for anyone, let alone a Jewish dwarf who came to Ohio without knowing virtually anyone in the 1950s," said his son Carey Douglas Hoffman of Greenhills. "He made his way on the strength of his personality. I can't think of anybody that I admire more than my dad for all that he was able to accomplish."
Former Enquirer managing editor Jim Schottelkotte of Dent said: "He had an admirable, positive attitude. He just plunged ahead and lived his life as full as he could."
Mr. Hoffman was publicity director for the National Basketball Association's Cincinnati Royals 1959-64.
He "loved to be around the team - and lived and died for the team," said Jack Twyman of Indian Hill, a former Royal and member of the NBA Hall of Fame.
He never lost his love for basketball, said John Kiesewetter, the Enquirer's TV/radio critic and one of Mr. Hoffman's former editors. "He would take his vacation in March to watch the first round of the NCAA basketball tournament on television.
"Everyone who knew him," Kiesewetter added, "was inspired by him."
Born and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y., Steffen Pierre Hoffman graduated from Defiance College in Ohio and worked as government reporter for the Sidney (Ohio) Daily News and as sports editor of the Fairborn (Ohio) Daily Herald before coming to Cincinnati to be PR man for the Royals in 1959. He joined the Enquirer as a news reporter in 1966, moved to sports in 1968 and was the TV/radio writer 1969-80. He wrote a consumer advocate column 1980-81.
Mr. Hoffman underwent five surgeries from 1979 to 1998 to correct a debilitating spinal cord condition. His condition slowly robbed him of his ability to walk.
"He became one of the finest phone reporters I ever saw," said Enquirer copy editor Jim Rohrer of Liberty Township. "He covered Indiana by phone and got more out of that territory than anyone who ever worked that beat."
Mr. Hoffman retired from the Enquirer in 2000.
"Steve was a great teacher," said Martin Hogan of Finneytown, a former Enquirer reporter and copy editor. "I learned about courage and acceptance through his example. He was just a giant."
Mr. Hoffman's wife, Lois Lee Greenberg Hoffman, died in 2001.
In addition to his son Carey, survivors include: another son, Rodney Lawrence Hoffman of West Chester Township: a sister, Doris Scherbak of Orleans, Mass.; and four grandchildren.
The funeral will be at 11:30 a.m. Friday at Weil Funeral Home, 8350 Cornell Rd. in Symmes Twp., followed by a reception at PJ's on the Square, 10780 Montgomery Road in Montgomery. Interment will be at Spring Grove Cemetery.
Memorials: Little People of America, 5289 NE Elam Young Pkwy., Suite F-100, Hillsboro, OR 97124; or Beechwood Home, 2140 Pogue Ave., Cincinnati 45208.
