Barbara Hoffman Johnson
1940-2018
Barbara Hoffman Johnson passed away peacefully surrounded by family and friends on November 16, 2018 after waging a courageous battle with cancer. Barbara was a beautiful person inside and out, talented, thoughtful, adventuresome, and dearly loved her family and friends. She also held a special place in her heart for all animals.
Barbara was born on September 25, 1940 in Orange, New Jersey. She moved with her family to Houston in 1952 and attended Lanier Junior High and Lamar High School. Barbara then attended Stephens College and SMU and majored in music. While attending SMU, she was an active member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority.
Barbara was a gifted and talented professional singer and performer. She had a beautiful voice and presence. She shared her beautiful gift and brought great joy to many with her voice. After college in 1962, Barbara headed to New York City to pursue her singing career. While in New York, as an oratorio and concert soloist, she performed leads in several summer stock musicals and operettas in the New England area. She also performed leading roles with the Metropolitan Opera Studio with credits including Musetta (La Boheme), Lauretta (Gianni Schiccii) and Cio Cio San (Madame Butterfly). Barbara was also chosen as a soloist to sing with Placido Domingo in concert at Carnegie Hall and as the principle soloist on the National Tour with the Whit/Lo Singers.
Barbara returned to Texas in 1976 to be near her family and sang with The Houston Grand Opera. She was a featured soloist at the Great Caruso for 20 years, performed Broadway Operetta Reviews at Ovations and she was the lead singer with The Jr. League Singing Sustainers.
Barbara was an avid volunteer. She was a member of the Junior League in both New York City and Houston. She was a member of the Magic Circle Republican Women's Club and served as a volunteer for many Republican campaigns and a proud member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Barbara was a past chairman and vice president for the Houston Grand Opera Guild where she served tirelessly. She was a patron of The Moores School of Music at the University of Houston and The Houston Zoo. She was a member of The Houston Tuesday Musical Club and was often a soloist for them.
Barbara loved to travel and had a great sense of adventure. She enjoyed the Texas Hill Country with her close friends and traveling throughout Europe and the U.S. Her passionate love of animals took her twice to Africa for photo safaris. However, her favorite place was her treasured beach house in Galveston. There she took many heartfelt and long walks on the beach with her sister June. There she spent many hours relaxing on the beach and swimming in the Gulf. And it was here, where she watched her nephews and their families play and grow-up. She celebrated holidays and events and created special memories with her family, friends and her beloved cocker spaniels.
Barbara was preceded in death by her parents, Edward Herrick Hoffman and Beth Boggess Olsen, her loving husband of 18 years, James Merritte Johnson, and her brother-in-law, Kenneth Anthony Kangieser.
She is survived by her love of 16 years, Carl Ahrens, her sister and best friend, June Hoffman Kangieser, her three nephews who loved and cherished her; Ken and Julie Kangieser, Brad and Melissa Kangieser, and Jeff and Faith Kangieser. Barbara was also blessed with grand nieces and nephews; Morgan Kangieser, Drew Kangieser and wife Kassandra, Kendall Kangieser, Zachary Kangieser, and Thomas Kangieser. She also leaves behind her loving dog, Bentley, who she absolutely adored.
A memorial service will be held on November 29, 2018 at 11:00 am at St. John the Divine Episcopal Church, 2540 River Oaks Blvd.
Special thanks go out to Dr. Michael Beavers and his team at MD Anderson Cancer Center and the companionate caregivers. The family asks that any donations can be made to MD Anderson Cancer Center, Citizens for Animal Protection (CAP) or the .