Friday, January 20, 2012

RIP Howard Hopkins

I was out of town when I heard this news: Howard Hopkins, a writer and editor who I knew through his work with Moonstone. I was stunned to hear that he suffered a heart attack at the age of 50.

Howard was a talented writer and one of the best editors I've ever had. He was friendly and helpful but also uncompromising in what he asked for from writers. That is an amazing combination of qualities in an editor and helps writers to be their best.

Howard was a good guy and I wish I'd known him better. He leaves behind his wife, Dominique. Unfortunately, he also left behind some staggering medical bills.

At the request of Howard's wife, Dominique, Chuck Juzek has passed the following info along to the pulp fan community. Due to a mistake by their insurance agent 6 months ago that Dominique only became aware of after Howard's death, Howard's life insurance had lapsed at the time of his death. As a result, in addition to everything else that his passing means to her, she's now scrambling in order to find the funds to pay for his funeral expenses. If you have the ability, she's accepting donations to help pay for those expenses; at her request, below is her address for anyone that wishes to contribute.

Dominique Hopkins
2 McKee Drive
Old Orchard Beach, ME 04064

2 comments:

Bobbie Metevier said...

Sorry to hear about your friend, Matthew!

Anonymous said...

As I read yet once again these nice stories about Howard I am so saddened by the fact that donations were asked for to pay for medical bills and funeral expenses. He had no medical bills and the funeral was not where the money went. His wife cancelled his life insurance policy the previous year. Please don't let what someone else did reflect on Howard's character. He would be devastated by what was done in his name.