HASKEL HOFFENBERG

HOFFENBERG--Haskel "Hack", died on September 15th, 2015, peacefully in his sleep at the age of 93. After attending Allegheny College, Hack served in the army in WWII where he was recruited into the Office of Strategic Services (OSS). He was part of a small group of German, French and Belgian resistance officers in Europe securing villages and towns of German troops after Allied victories. His WWII experiences created a lifelong pursuit of questioning traditional structures and searching for deeper meaning. After the war, he graduated from the University of Chicago School of Law and practiced law before moving to Brazil where he lived for 20 years; later he returned to New York City. During his years traveling throughout all of South America, Hack amassed an impressive collection of art from various countries. He had a keen eye for 19th Century photography and became a major collector, dealer and contributor with one of the largest collections of 19th Century photography of Latin America. Hack influenced many people from around the globe with his intelligence, eclectic interests and his ability to encourage others to take risks in their own lives. Hack was a mentor to so many who were privileged to come under his aegis. He is survived by his wife Nancy Abel, his children Jennings (Claudia), Bettina (Jeff), Sasha (David,) and his grandchildren Carolina, Lucas and Noah. Special thanks to his nephew Adam Abel, his faithful companion, George and beloved canine girls Cleopatra and Babe Ruth. Funeral services were held in private.