In 1985, Barbara Ellen Kingsolver was just beginning her career as a full-time freelance writer. But that wasn’t the only major change in her life—this was also the year she married Joseph John Hoffmann, a bright chemistry scholar. They settled into a cozy little bungalow in downtown Tucson.
With Joe’s skills in carpentry and Barbara’s creative energy, they transformed their home into a cozy and welcoming space. Even their small backyard garden began to flourish, adding a dash of charm to their modest setup.
Two years later, in 1987, the couple welcomed their daughter, Camille Hoffmann Kingsolver. Camille currently works as a therapist, majorly working with at-risk teens. She has a family of her own, raising two sons with her husband, Reid.
Coming back to Barbara’s pregnancy, life wasn’t exactly luxurious. Between her pregnancy and the sleepless nights that followed, she found herself working on her first novel, The Bean Trees, during the quiet hours while everyone else slept. Living in a one-room house didn’t leave much space for a writer, so Barbara set up a makeshift desk in a closet to get her writing done without disturbing Joe.
In 1991, the family made a bold move to the Canary Islands, spurred by Joe’s research work and some frustration over the first Gulf War. But this move also marked a turning point. The following year in 1992, Barbara and Joe went their separate ways, and Barbara returned to the U.S. with their daughter.
Suddenly, Barbara was a single mother, balancing the demands of her writing career with raising her baby girl. Joe wasn’t exactly present during this time, and Barbara had to find a way to make ends meet on her own.
Then in 1994, Barbara found love again, marrying Steven L. Hopp. And a couple of years later, she welcomed her second daughter, Lily Hopp Kingsolver.
Joseph Passed Away at a Young Age Due To Respiratory Failure
After separation from Barbara, he settled in Arizona. He found love again and married Kathleen ‘Kathy’ Jo Asendorf in 1997.
Tragically, Joseph died in March 2022 from respiratory failure. At the time of his passing, he was only 52 years old and was working as a professor of Arid Land Studies at the University of Arizona, where he had been working since the 80s. But his connection to the U&A goes back to the 70s when he earned his PhD in Medicinal Chemistry.
After his passing, his wife Kathy remembered him as someone with an offbeat sense of humor. She further added, “He was a dedicated scientist. He was an extremely ethical human being.”
While they were married, the couple joined hands in opening Gentle Hands Center for Children, a playschool in Tucson, which was built on the philosophy, as Kathy recalls, “believed in having safe places for good emotional care for children.”
