Ken Hoffman, beloved Houston spiritual columnist, dies

Ken Hoffman, a longtime and beloved Houston columnist, died suddenly over the weekend, according to close friends.

Hoffman, who most recently worked for the website CultureMap, was known for his witty and biting columns on “the quirky side of Houston.” He previously spent 22 years at the Houston Chronicle, where he wrote weekly fast-food reviews, a column on homeless animals and, in his words, “zany columns about life in Houston.” He worked at the Houston Post before it closed.

His age and cause of death could not be immediately confirmed.

Melissa Aguilar, the Chronicle editor who supervised Hoffman, said he was an ordinary guy who wanted to write about and for ordinary people. Hoffman, a fast-food addict who didn’t eat much, insisted they have their one-on-one dates at Chick-fil-A rather than at the office, she said.

Hoffman liked fast food because “that’s what everybody ate,” Aguilar said. “He didn’t like to put himself above other people. He wanted to be a regular guy, and that’s what people ate, so that’s what he wanted to criticize,” she said.

The Beatles, wrestling, “Seinfeld,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” Little League and RodeoHouston carnival food were some of his other favorite subjects.

Although he grew up in New Jersey, Hoffman moved to Houston and embraced the city enthusiastically, said CBS News correspondent Janet Shamlian, who met him while he was working at the Houston Post when they were both in their 20s.

Hoffman loved the Astros, and the two often went to games together. Once, at a preview event showcasing the Astros’ menu for the upcoming season, Hoffman insisted the two go to the concession stand to buy a hot dog — proudly surprising her with a new menu item dubbed the “Ken Hoffman Dog,” Shamlian said.

By defending Houston, whom he considered underappreciated, and castigating those he believed deserved it, Hoffman added humanity and humility to the story, Shamlian said.

“He could be biting in his writing, but he was witty and always had a heart,” she said.

Hoffman’s latest column, published last week, criticized CenterPoint Energy and local and state officials on both sides of the political spectrum for the extent of Beryl’s damage in Houston and the slow response that followed. Hoffman was at his Lake Conroe home, his safe haven, this weekend because his residence at West University had no power, according to Brian Wice, a longtime friend, legal analyst and criminal defense attorney.

He is survived by his wife Erin and his son Andrew.