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Updated: 10:48 PM Jul 6, 2009
WEAU 13 News Director John Hoffland passes away
It's a sad time for WEAU 13 News as longtime News Director John Hoffland passed away at home Saturday. Posted: 1:57 PM Jul 4, 2009Reporter: WEAU 13 News Staff Email Address: news@weau.com |
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9 Comments
I first noticed John in college history class and was so impressed with his questions to Dr. Voight, the professor. I later got to know him outside the classroom and discovered his wonderful humor and laugh. We had a date once too. He borrowed a friend's Corvette and we "tooled" (one of his words) down the Great River Road in it thinking we were pretty cool (in a borrowed car!) I saw him in LaCrosse in 2001 on the Mississippi Queen as we were boarding and he and his son were getting off....it had been years; he had white hair. I really never knew him as anything other than a college student, but reading all these tributes tells me he left his mark professionally and otherwise. Did anyone ever hear him say "the school buses are rolling and the hot lunch program is in session"...whataguy!
When I graduated from UW-River Falls in 1992 Eau Claire was naturally one of the first markets I applied to. Mr. Hoffland did not hire me (neither did about 30 other news directors) but I do recall that he offered me some constructive criticism and encouragement. Although I never met John, I believe his kind words helped me endure further rejection until I was eventually hired here in Arkansas...where I have been reporting the news here for 16 years. I'm sure there were many others he inspired as well.
The news world has lost a good journalist. Unfortunately I could have used his skills in my posting since I had a copy error. I did not mean to print the Marine mantra...dianne ashbeck kennedy
Unbelievable. I worked with John in La Crosse in the 70's and I have not followed his career, but when I read what his team and friends have written it is easy to see that John never veered from his principles, his ideals, his ethics, nor did his sense of humor change. I left the news business when we worked together in La Crosse for a number of reasons. It is so comforting to know that there were and are news people with his characteristics...and his legacy lives on. Thank God for people like John Hoffland, I learned about news, about partying with friends, alcohol included, and perspective from him. Semper Fi. My deepest sympathies to his family...what a loss. dianne ashbeck-kennedy
I don't know anyone who loved journalism more than John. We would meet each year at a journalism conference in Minneapolis and inevitably, we would be up most of the night with John leading the debate on an ethics question. He challenged all of us to maintain the standards to merit the public's trust in our work. His love for the craft will be missed.
In 2004 my Granddaughter casually mentioned that if there were any celebrities she would want to meet it would be the Channel 13 crew. Her 9th birthday was the next day so I called the station and asked if there was a possiblity she could come for a little tour. John Hoffland was so kind and said absolutely! We finally worked out a later date and he couldn't have been nicer to her. We got a "private" tour and he patiently explained the workings of the station. He even let her sit in the "anchor" chair and have her picture taken with him. He introduced her to Sean Verbotten, then had her picture taken with Pat Kreitlow and Judy Clark.It was a wonderful day for her and his kindness will always be remembered by us.
John's passion and perspective made the world of television news a much better place and is evident in the women and men working today in newsrooms throughout the country.
Such bittersweet memories reading through these comments - these classic moments will last forever: John helping us learn the transition from film to video, John smoking up a storm as we worked late on election nights, John patiently critiquing a boring Chippewa County Board story... One of my fondest Eau Claire memories was at Hooligans watching Walter Cronkite's last newscast. It was a passing of an era, as is this.
John Hoffland gave me, and so many others, the foundation for how a TV newsroom should work. Yes, he told stories. But he also was a boss who listened, no matter what time or day of the week, and helped me gain more confidence to do my job. He loved the news. He loved teaching us how to report it. I feel fortunate that my first stop out of college was in John's newsroom.
My condolences to John's family as well as his TV family at WEAU. I met John 25 years ago when I was young reporter and he was a manager at WITI in Milwaukee. He was kind enough to take time to look at my tape and give me suggestioin on improving my work. We kept in touch over the years through RTNDA and recently we would talk as he made arrangments with for his sports reporter to come to in Phoenix and feed from the NBC station in while covering the Brewers in Spring Training. John you will be missed.
I am truly thankful to have had the opportunity to work with Hoffland. During my year-and-a-half at WEAU, he was a great mentor - always taking the time to answer questions and pass along advice. I know I am a better journalist and a better person as a result. My thoughts and prayers are with John's family, friends and the WEAU team.
Hoffland! Not afraid to go into battle with you, not afraid of tough questions, willing to back you up when you got yourself into trouble.. Every moment was a teachable one! He was a mentor to so many of us rookie journalists. No newsroom calamity was every as big a deal when you compared with a life or death story from 'Nam. I still remember him putting his feet up on the desk as he'd share a relevant bit with us. Absolutely the best boss- best mentor I've had. Really had a heart for teaching all of us. My favorite memory was his coaching me in the "Woodward and Bernstein Technique" he called it. Like everything he taught, it worked! We got the scoop. Learned so much from that guy. And he was just such a great person to boot. We suffer a great loss with his passing. My deepest condolences to you Penny, Lukas and the whole newsroom. (Lukas, he was sure proud of you. Boy did he tell us stories all the time...The Boy Wonder!) All our prayers and thoughts are with you now.
I worked for John in the early 90's. He was a first-rate teacher, and an incredibly patient boss. I owe him a debt of thanks I can never repay.
It is difficult to describe in a short paragraph the person we affectionately just called Hoffland. He was, first and foremost, a great journalist but also one of the most dedicated educators. He helped hundreds of young college graduates become great reporters and anchors. He loved “telling stories” of the successes they had achieved after they left WEAU. He was also one of the most respected and respectful individuals I have ever known. Respected by his staff, peers and managers and respectful of anyone that was being interviewed in a story. It was my honor and privilege to have worked with him at WEAU for 14 years. Penny and Lucas, my thoughts and prayers are with you.
My heart goes out to Penny, Lukas and the entire WEAU family. As a former WEAU employee I remember John as a man of great integrity, compassion and intelligence. Still, he was such so humble, sweet and easy to talk to. I'll never forget his stories, one of them he was so intense about telling he tipped backwards in an old newsroom chair! What a great, great man. He will be dearly missed.