Syd Hoff Obituary

HOFF, SYD. Legendary children's author and cartoonist, of Miami Beach, Florida, formerly of Long Island (Belle) New York, passed away on May 12, 2004, at the age of 91 from natural causes. He was born and raised in the Bronx in New York City, and studied at the National Academy of Art. Although he had high hopes of becoming a fine artist, a natural comic touch in his work caused his bemused instructors to advise him to try something else instead. He did and his career took off when he sold his first cartoon to The New Yorker at the age of 18, thereafter becoming an award-winning cartoonist. His cartoons were a regular feature in such magazines as The New Yorker, Esquire, and the Saturday Evening Post and were also nationally syndicated in many newspapers and amply represented in The New Yorker Album of Drawings, 1925-1975. He was best known as the author and illustrator of more than 100 popular children's books, such as Sammy the Seal, Oliver, and Danny and the Dinosaur, which sold over 10 million copies since its 1958 publication, from the classic I CAN READ Book Series. He also authored the oversized, 400-plus-page book titled Editorial and Political Cartooning. Syd tickled the funny bones of millions of children both here and abroad with his beloved "chalk" talks, humorously sharing stories of his youth and family, along with teaching children and adults how to cartoon using letters of the alphabet and numerals. Besides countless visits to schools and libraries, he was also a frequent entertainer on cruise ships around the world. His success was due to, in his own words, his philosophy that "the best humor (has to do with events) that people can identify as having happened to them, or something that has been in their subconscious. Humor, for some reason, is basically sad. There's some sort of affinity between the sad and the funny that makes the humor all the funnier." Syd married his late wife, Dora Hoff, of Brooklyn, New York, in 1937, and they had three daughters: Bonnie Hoff (Donald James) Stillman of Margate, Florida, Nancy Hoff, who died as an infant, and Susan Gross, who died in 1985, but was survived by her two children (and Syd's only grandchildren) Barry Gross and Shelli Gross. In 1957, Syd moved to Florida and made Miami Beach his permanent home. Syd Hoff is survived by his daughter Bonnie Hoff Stillman and his son-in-law Donald James Stillman, of Margate, Florida, and his sister Dorothy (Dan) Ross of California. Syd, your personality and spunk will be sorely missed by all those who knew you. With much love and sadness we say goodbye one last time, from your children, grandchildren, sister, nieces and nephews. A memorial service is planned for 11:00 a.m. on May 30, 2004, at Temple Beth Sholom, 4144 Chase Avenue, Miami Beach. To visit this Guest Book Online, go to www.herald.com/obituaries.

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Published by the Miami Herald on May 28, 2004.

Memories and Condolences
for Syd Hoff

4 Entries

Judi Zalles

June 3, 2004

I was blessed to have grown up with Syd Hoff as my neighbor next door. Their door was always as open as their hearts. (Syd’s and his wife Dutch). There was always a place at the kitchen table when I needed someone to talk to. They both instinctively knew when I needed space from my parents (even though wonderful, I was a teenager). Syd was always in shorts, sitting in the same arm chair, with a drawing board in front of him. Amazing I didn’t know he was SYD HOFF until I took a Children’s Literature class in college. I couldn’t believe he played hand ball every day, and rode a bike instead of driving a car. No one did that in those days, especially not on Miami Beach!

My son, Asa, looked forward to forays into the trees with his PopPop to pick grapefruits from Syd’s treasured two trees during our visits to Florida. Asa, like so many thousands of other children, learned how to ‘break the code’ of reading from his collection of Syd Hoff books. Asa went with him once to “help” at a chalk talk. He knew how to charm my son. It boggled my mind to see hundreds of elementary school children gathered in a gym, totally attentive and mesmerized by Syd’s humor and stories. I don’t think any child had any attention deficit that day. A couple of years ago I drove to see Syd in Connecticut at what was probably one of his last ‘chalk talks’. He still regaled the audience with his stories and drawings, with energy left to continue his story telling all throughout our dinner. His eyes remained alit and a smile fixed across his face as he reminisced into the night with stories about the war, times with Dutch and Bonnie, and his love for my parents. It so tickled him to see them through the window, holding hands while watching television, he would mention it every time we spoke. Like his stories, life wasn’t complicated. He appreciated the simple things. His warmth, caring, and humor were like the characters in his books. He was honest in who he was, no pretensions. I always liked that about him. Like the others whose hearts he has touched, whether in person or through his books, I will miss him. For Syd, your family, and all of us, “May the long time sun shine upon us, and the pure light within, guide our way on.” B’Shalom

Sandy Zalles Epstein

June 1, 2004

I remember climbing his trees to pick fruit for him and Dutch when visiting my grandparents. He always had a story to tell and taught us all how to draw cartoons. Syd has touched our lives both personally and through his books. I enjoy reading our children his books (especially the ones with his cartoon face signature). Our thoughts and prayers are with Syd's family and friends. He was a wonderful and kind man. With love, Sandy --Ted and Bert's granddaughter

William

May 28, 2004

Sad to know that Syd Hoff is gone, I have every one of his books, have read them to my favorite kids and wish there would be more. An amazing person to come up with these books, I wish I could have met this man. He will be missed.

Cynthia Barsha-Gold

May 28, 2004

I am so sorry to hear of Syd Hoff's passing. He is one of my favorite children's book authors and will always be. I teach at a Montessori preschool in Miami. This year I started out the school year with Syd Hoff being the Author of the month. We read over twenty books of his. The children loved every single one of them. The child that remembered his name each day was rewarded with a special Syd Hoff book. I have collected the original books for my own personal Syd Hoff collection and for my two children.Syd Hoff has touched the lives of so many children and people and will always be remembered and carried along within us all. Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family for their happiness through this difficult time. Syd we loved and will treasure what you drew and wrote and shared with us all. You had a fantastic possitive life mission. Thank you Syd!

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