104-year-old Chicago girl dies days after making a skydive that might put her within the report books

Dorothy Hoffner, a 104-year-old Chicago girl whose recent skydive may see her licensed by Guinness World Data because the oldest particular person to ever bounce from a airplane, has died.

Hoffner’s shut good friend, Joe Conant, stated she was discovered useless Monday morning by employees on the Brookdale Lake View senior dwelling group. Conant stated Hoffner apparently died in her sleep on Sunday night time.

Conant, who’s a nurse, stated he met Hoffner — whom he referred to as Grandma at her request — a number of years in the past whereas he was working as a caregiver for an additional resident on the senior dwelling middle. He stated she had wonderful vitality and remained mentally sharp.

“She was indefatigable. She simply saved going,” he stated Tuesday. “She was not somebody who would take naps within the afternoon, or not present up for any perform, dinner or the rest. She was at all times there, absolutely current. She saved going, at all times.”

On Oct. 1, Hoffner made a tandem skydive that might land her within the report books because the world’s oldest skydiver. She jumped out of a airplane from 13,500 ft (4,100 meters) at Skydive Chicago in Ottawa, Illinois, 85 miles (140 kilometers) southwest of Chicago.

“Age is only a quantity,” Hoffner instructed a cheering crowd moments after touchdown. It was not her first time leaping from a airplane — that occurred when she was a spry 100 years of age.

Conant stated he was working via paperwork to make sure that Guinness World Data certifies Hoffner posthumously because the world’s oldest skydiver, however he expects that may take a while. The present report was set in Might 2022 by 103-year-old Linnéa Ingegärd Larsson of Sweden.

Conant stated Hoffner did not skydive to interrupt a report. He stated she had so completely loved her first bounce that she simply wished to do it once more.

“She had no intention of breaking the report. And she or he had no real interest in any publicity or something. She wasn’t doing it for some other motive than she wished to go skydiving,” he stated.

Skydive Chicago and the USA Parachute Affiliation celebrated Hoffner in a joint assertion Tuesday.

“We’re deeply saddened by Dorothy’s passing and really feel honored to have been part of making her world-record skydive a actuality.

“Skydiving is an exercise that many people safely tuck away in our bucket lists. However Dorothy reminds us that it’s by no means too late to take the fun of a lifetime. We’re perpetually grateful that skydiving was part of her thrilling, well-lived life,” they stated.

Conant stated Hoffner labored for greater than 4 a long time as a phone operator with Illinois Bell, which later turned AT&T, and retired 43 years in the past. The lifelong Chicago resident by no means married, and Conant stated she had no instant members of the family.

A memorial service for Hoffner will probably be held in early November.

“She was a pricey good friend who was an inspiration,” Conant stated.