“Age is just a number,” Those were Dorothy Hoffner’s inspiring words to the crowd gathered to watch her set the record for the oldest person to skydive.
Earlier this month, the Chicago woman accomplished the incredible feat despite being 104 years old and using a walker! Although Hoffner wanted to embark on more thrilling adventures, the daredevil breathed his last on Monday, October 9.
Dorothy Hoffner Dies After Gaining International Recognition For Her Skydiving Record
The new skydiving queen died peacefully in her sleep, according to her close friend Joe Conant. Speaking to the Chicago Tribune about his death, Hoffner’s loved ones said they always believed nothing could stop the 104-year-old’s wild spirit.
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“He’s just tireless. She just kept going,” Conant said of her late friend, whom she fondly called “granny.” Before beating Sweden’s Rut Linnéa Ingegärd Larsson to become the oldest Skydiver at age 103, Hoffner dreamed of freefalling. The deceased claimed the sensation woke her up.
The vivacious Chicagoan’s dream came true last week when he jumped from a plane to set a new skydiving record. Photos and videos of Hoffner’s jump went viral, showing the 104-year-old beaming as he bravely made the 13,500-foot drop.
The deceased was full of joy after landing safely as he released his parachute, grabbed his walker, and moved into the crowd who witnessed his unforgettable moment. “Age is just a number, you know?” Hoffner humbly chimed in.
Although she didn’t brag about her historic feat to the audience, the hype surrounding her Guinness World Record attempt allowed the proud grandmother to prank her loved ones. The day after the skydive, Hoffner’s family visited him at the Brookdale Lake View senior living community, unaware of his recent accomplishment.
When his loved ones arrived, the 10-year-old gave them a copy of the Chicago Tribune. An image of Hoffner’s skydiving adventure was planted on the front page along with the headline, “Chicagoan sets record for oldest skydiver.”
Recalling their shocked reaction to the 104-year-old’s achievement, Conant revealed the family had exclaimed: “Dorothy, you never told us you went skydiving!” while Hoffner mischievously replied, “Well, you never asked!” Local newspapers weren’t the only ones covering the 10-year-old’s rise to international fame.
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Millions became interested in Hoffner, attention that the Chicago women did not like at first. A few weeks before his appearance at Skydive Chicago, the deceased threatened to bring a cold steak to the jump and gouge Conant in the eye for announcing his record attempt. “He needs to ice it,” he joked.
Conant, happy to be spared the black eye, says his old friend never wanted fame. “He didn’t do it because of the world record. He did it because he wanted to skydive,” he said. Despite not liking the buzz surrounding his jump, the 104-year-old eventually embraced the idea.
As reporters around the world fought for an interview with Hoffner, Conant claimed his friend didn’t act his age by never sleeping or canceling plans. Given her spirited nature and seeming ability to escape the ravages of time, no one, especially Conant, expected the beloved grandmother to die so soon.
Hoffer Wants to Ride a Hot Air Balloon Before He Dies
“It was quite a shock,” he said of her death. “He gave a tremendous amount of his spirit and life to all of us, and it inspired us all.”
A few days before his death, Conant stated that Hoffner wanted to take another trip to the sky in a hot air balloon. However, his wish came true in a different way.
Skydive Chicago and the United States Parachute Association also expressed grief over Hoffner’s death. Their statement to PEOPLE read, “We are deeply saddened by Dorothy’s passing and honored to be a part of making her world skydiving a reality.”
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“Skydiving is an activity most of us keep safely on our bucket list. But Dorothy reminds us that it’s never too late to enjoy the fun of a lifetime,” the parting message continued. “We are always grateful that skydiving was part of his interesting life and the good life. His legacy is even more remarkable because of the worldwide attention given to his inspirational story.”
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
