Dorothy Hoffner, who might soon be crowned the world’s oldest skydiver by the Guinness World Records, has passed away at 104. Hoffner, a vibrant resident of the Brookdale Lake View senior living community, was discovered deceased on Monday morning. Her close friend, Joe Conant, confirmed that she appeared to have peacefully passed away in her sleep the previous night.
Hoffner made headlines on Oct. 1 when she tandem skydived from a height of 13,500 feet at Skydive Chicago. Remarkably, this wasn’t her debut; she took her first skydiving leap at 100. “Age is just a number,” Hoffner said post-jump, amidst applause.
Although she might soon posthumously clinch the title from 103-year-old Linnéa Ingegärd Larsson of Sweden, Conant emphasized that records or accolades were never her goal. “She just wanted to skydive,” he stated.
Skydive Chicago, along with the United States Parachute Association, commemorated Hoffner’s zest for life in a joint statement, expressing gratitude for her daring spirit and acknowledging the inspiration she’s been to many.
Dorothy’s career spanned over 40 years as a telephone operator with Illinois Bell, now known as AT&T. Despite being a lifelong Chicagoan, Hoffner never married and had no direct family.
A memorial to honor Hoffner’s extraordinary life and legacy will be conducted in early November. Conant fondly remembered her, saying, “She was a dear friend who was an inspiration.”
