104-Year-Old Chicago Woman Dies Days After Potentially Breaking World Skydiving Record

A 104-year-old Chicago woman potentially broke a world record for becoming the oldest skydiver just a week before she died.

On October 1, Dorothy Hoffner made a tandem skydive outside of Chicago that may have landed her in the Guinness World Records as the oldest person to parachute from a plane.

Hoffner jumped from 13,500 feet (4,100 meters) at Skydive Chicago in Ottawa, Illinois, 85 miles (140 kilometers) southwest of Chicago.

Her close friend Joe Conant shared that Hoffner died in her sleep Sunday night. She was found Monday morning by staff at the Brookdale Lake View senior living community.

Conant also shared that Hoffner didn't decide to go skydiving to set a record. She just wanted to do it again.

“She had no intention of breaking the record. And she had no interest in any publicity or anything."

"She wasn’t doing it for any other reason than she wanted to go skydiving."

While people on social media were sad to learn of her passing, they all applauded her tenacity and spirit.

On Tuesday, Skydive Chicago and United States Parachute Association issued a joint statement.

"We are deeply saddened by Dorothy’s passing and feel honored to have been a part of making her world-record skydive a reality."

"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."

Conant shared that the record has yet to be certified by Guinness, but they are working through the paperwork. The record is currently held by Linnéa Ingegärd of Sweden, who achieved that feat in May 2022 at the age of 103.

Conant said of his dear friend:

“She was indefatigable. 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.”

“She was a dear friend who was an inspiration."