Dorothy Hoffner was a Chicago woman who set a world record when she went skydiving at the age of 104, just a week before her death.
- Died: October 9, 2023 (Who else died on October 9?)
- Details of death: Died in her sleep at the age of 104.
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Dorothy Hoffner’s legacy
Hoffner first went skydiving when she was 100 years old, and she made it clear that she didn’t want to take on the daredevil feat to get attention or set records, but simply because it sounded fun. She enjoyed it so much that she did it again, four years later, becoming the oldest person ever to tandem skydive. Her record-breaking jump on October 1, 2023, went viral as people around the world were fascinated with Hoffner’s courage.
At the time of her two jumps, Hoffner was a resident of Brookdale Senior Living in Chicago, where she became friends with a caregiver who helped facilitate her jumps. Prior to her retirement, she worked for Illinois Bell Telephone Co.
Notable quote
“[T]here was nothing scary about it…. It was nice, peaceful. I had to keep myself awake so I could see that scenery.” —from a 2023 interview for the Chicago Sun-Times
Tributes to Dorothy Hoffner
Full obituary: Chicago Sun-Times
