Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

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

Screenshots of Dorothy Hoffner tandem skydiving
@nytimes/X

Dorothy Hoffner may have broken the world record for oldest skydiver after she made a tandem skydive on October 1.

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."

More from Trending

The Creepiest Unexplainable Things People Have Seen With Their Own Eyes

As much as we might not want to admit it, there are some things in life that are hard, if not impossible, to explain.

That's all the harder to swallow when the unexplainable is also horrifyingly creepy.

Keep ReadingShow less
Gavin Newsom; Screenshot of JD Vance from AI-generated video
Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images; @GovPressOffice/X

Gavin Newsom Just Epically Trolled JD Vance Over Tariffs With An AI Video About Couches

California Governor Gavin Newsom mocked Vice President JD Vance—and his love of couches—with an AI-generated video to troll him over the rising costs of goods due to President Donald Trump's retaliatory tariffs.

Earlier this week, Trump announced new tariffs: 10% on softwood timber and lumber, and 25% on “certain upholstered wooden products,” set to take effect October 14. The move follows Trump’s announcement last week of additional tariffs on kitchen cabinets, vanities, and other upholstered products, which will take effect October 1.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshots of Kelly Clarkson's conversation with bus drivers from Texas flood
The Kelly Clarkson Show/YouTube

Kelly Clarkson Honors Texas Flood Heroes In Emotional Return To Her Talk Show Following Ex's Death

In July 2025, homes, businesses, Camp Mystic, and more were swept away when central Texas was devastated with severe flooding. At Camp Mystic alone, 27 campers and staff members, including the camp's director, died during the initial flood.

Many people were caught off guard by the flooding and were left stranded mid-flood, getting to the highest ground they could find while they waited and hoped for help to come.

Keep ReadingShow less
Walton Goggins; Pete Davidson
Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images; Michael Loccisano/WireImage

Walton Goggins Speaks Out After Pete Davidson Predicts Fans Will 'Turn On' Him Like They Did Pedro Pascal

Pete Davidson went viral recently for calling out the weird online backlash to actor Pedro Pascal's unstoppable career trajectory in recent years.

And he thinks White Lotus star Walton Goggins is next.

Keep ReadingShow less
Alabama State University Honeybeez
@the.asuhoneybeez/Instagram

College Announcer Apologizes After Sparking Outrage With Body-Shaming Comment About Plus-Size Dance Team

In the United States, there are 107 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)—schools founded when segregation laws and racist policies kept Black men and women from higher education. The schools developed their own unique culture and customs around stepping, marching band, drum majors, and majorettes.

HBCU majorettes march with the band, dance, and have stand battles during games. The dance style and moves are unique to Black culture, but have spread beyond the HBCUs to high schools and dance schools across the country.

Keep ReadingShow less