104-year-old Dorothy Hoffner passed away on Sunday night. She had died peacefully in her sleep and was discovered the following morning by staff at Brookdale Lake View Senior Living Community. Her close friend, Joe Conant, confirmed her passing.
The Chicago native recently captivated the country with her mission to perform a record-breaking skydive that could immortalize her in the history books. On October 1, Hoffner traveled to Skydive Chicago and jumped from a plane that was 13,500 feet high.
104-year-old skydiving champion Dorothy Hoffner has passed away
Both the United States Parachute Association and Skydive Chicago issued a joint statement mourning the passing of the fiery spirit that was Dorothy Hoffner. It reads, “We are deeply saddened by Dorothy’s passing and feel honored to have been a part of making her world-record skydive a reality.”
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The statement continues, “Skydiving is an activity that many of us safely tuck away in our bucket lists. But Dorothy reminds us that it’s never too late to take the thrill of a lifetime. We are forever grateful that skydiving was a part of her exciting, well-lived life.”
Remarkably, though, Conant revealed that “She had no intention of breaking the record.” Indeed, “she had no interest in any publicity or anything. She wasn’t doing it for any other reason than she wanted to go skydiving.”
Dorothy Hoffner enchanted others with her unique attitude
Hoffner never made it a secret that she was old, but she maintained a cheeky attitude about the passage of time. After her potentially record-breaking dive, Hoffner was asked how she felt. She replied, “Like I’m old.” The crowd of onlookers cheered, according to PIX11. At the same time, she would readily say, “Age is only a number, you know?”
So far, her record-breaking status is in limbo, but Conant is going through the motions to ensure that Hoffner is posthumously recognized by Guinness World Records for her feat as becoming the world’s oldest skydiver. The process can be time-consuming, but it is unfolding in her honor. The last time she participated in skydiving, she had just turned 100.
“She was indefatigable,” said Conant on Tuesday. “She just kept going. She was not someone who would take naps in the afternoon, or not show up for any function, dinner or anything else. She was always there, fully present. She kept going, always.”
Rest in peace, Dorothy Hoffner.
