A leading light of Maryland’s political scene for more than two decades, former State Sen. Barbara A. Hoffman (D-42nd) died on Sunday, June 20, after a battle with cancer. She was 81.
“During her two decades in the Maryland Senate, Barbara Hoffman was a champion of her district, her city, her county, and her state,” said Baltimore Jewish Council Executive Director Howard Libit. “She was particularly passionate about equity in public education and played a major role in substantial overhauls of funding for Maryland’s schools. Her impact on our community and our state continues to be felt today.”
Del. Samuel I. “Sandy” Rosenberg (D-41st) characterized Hoffman as “always prepared. The burden was on you to make the case to her if you were going to be an advocate or an opponent on an issue she felt strongly about. She did her homework and was very bright.”
A Baltimore native who attended what was then known as Towson State College, the former Barbara Marks was originally an English teacher and supervised secondary school teachers at Morgan State College from 1968 to 1973. She also co-authored an English textbook, “Journeys In English,” during her years as an educator.
Hoffman, who in 1966 earned a master’s degree in liberal arts from the Johns Hopkins University, entered politics while working on the campaign of the late State Sen. Rosalie Silber Abrams, who became her mentor.
Hoffman went on to become executive director of the Maryland Democratic Party from 1979 to 1983. She was initially appointed to the State Senate in January of1983 when Abrams retired to lead the Maryland Office on Aging.
Representing Northwest Baltimore City and County, Hoffman became one of the most powerful figures in state politics and served from 1995 to 20003 as chair of the Budget and Taxation Committee, the first woman to hold that position. She was known as a devoted legislator who displayed a no-nonsense approach to politics and serving her constituents.
In particular, Hoffman was known for her strong support of educational causes and environmental preservation. Among the critical legislative initiatives she championed and supported was the effort to codify the Thornton Education Funding Formula. She served as president of the National Association of Jewish Legislators from 1991-92.
“As chair of the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee for eight years, she was a key leader in advancing education initiatives and programs that supported Baltimore,” said Del. Dana M. Stein (D-11th). “Senator Hoffman played a major role in policy and politics in Annapolis and Baltimore.”
Rosenberg served as a 42nd District delegate during Hoffman’s tenure as state senator. “We did a lot of things cooperatively by and for Northwest Baltimore,” he said.
In particular, Rosenberg recalled working closely with Hoffman and former State Sen. Paula C. Hollinger (D-11th) in 1990 on an abortion rights bill in the General Assembly. Hoffman and Hollinger were the targets of some anti-Semitic and misogynistic literature in the Senate chambers due to their high-profile work on that legislative effort, he said.
“There was some pretty rough stuff on people’s desks,” Rosenberg said. “Barbara and Paula had to withstand a tough situation. But our bill passed in 1991 and put into the statutes of Maryland the holding of Roe [v. Wade].”
After leaving the General Assembly in January of 2003, Hoffman became a partner with the Artemis Group, a lobbying firm. She also served on numerous state boards and commissions, including the 21st Century School Facilities Commission, the Interagency Commission on School Construction and the Board of Trustees of the Enoch Pratt Free Library.
Hoffman was selected as one of “Maryland’s Top 100 Women” by the Maryland Daily Record in 1998, 2000, and 2003. She was also awarded honorary doctorate degrees by the University of Maryland, Baltimore, the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and the University of Maryland, University College.
In addition, she was a recipient of the First Citizen Award in 2001.
“Known for her plain talk, toughness and perspicacity, especially with regard to budgetary matters, Senator Hoffman is an outspoken proponent of carefully chosen initiatives for young children, and a strong advocate of meeting the needs of her less affluent constituents,” said Dr. Edward C. Papenfuse, former Maryland State Archivist and Commissioner of Land Patents, in his remarks when presenting the award to Hoffman. “For her profound dedication to her duties as a public servant and the wisdom with which they are performed, the Senate of Maryland rises in praise of Barbara Hoffman as a ‘First Citizen’ of Maryland.”
In her spare time, Hoffman was a voracious reader and an accomplished quilter and knitter who enjoyed quality time with family. She was a longtime member of Shaarei Tfiloh Synagogue.
Hoffman is survived by her husband of nearly 61 years, Donald E. Hoffman; her children, Alan (Abigail) Hoffman, Michael Hoffman (Wendy Erikson), and Carolyn (Richard) Karoll; her sister, Sheila Eller; her grandchildren, Dorianna Hoffman, Josh Hoffman, Meitel Hoffman, Asher Hoffman, Sidra Hoffman and Gili Hoffman; and her nephews, Brian Eller and Jonathon Eller.
Services were held at Sol Levinson & Bros, 8900 Reisterstown Rd. Pikesville, on Tuesday, June 22, at 2:30 p.m. Interment at Beth Tfiloh Cemetery, 5800 Windsor Mill Rd. The family will be in mourning at 2905 W. Strathmore Ave. in Northwest Baltimore, on Thursday from 1 to 8 p.m.
Contributions in Hoffman’s memory may be directed to Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation), P.O. Box 414238, Boston , Mass. 02241-4238.
On the memorial page of Sol Levinson & Bros., former Lt. Gov. Melvin A. “Mickey” Steinberg wrote of Hoffman, “During the course of many years that we served in Maryland government, we became good friends. She was an outstanding legislator but more importantly, a kind and caring person.”
In a Facebook post, Sen. Shelly L. Hettleman (D-11th) wrote that she first met Hoffman more than three decades ago while working for the Baltimore Jewish Council in Annapolis.
“Barbara was smart and tough and direct (which I always appreciated), and I was proud to call her my Senator when I lived in the district for a few years,” Hettleman wrote. “When I was elected many years later, she was always supportive and encouraging. I’ll miss her as one member of a generation of women who paved the way for those of us in elected office today and am grateful for the important legacy she leaves behind. May her memory be a blessing.”
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