Phil Hoffer

Phil Hoffer passed away on October 29, 2025, with his wife Pam Hoffer by his side. He was born July 29, 1940 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He was raised by his mother Monta and his step-dad, Joe Dunkle, in Norristown PA, along with his two step-siblings, Debbie (now deceased) and Gary (Jacie), who lives in Virginia.

Phil served in the Army from 1959-1961, stationed in Korea during peacetime. During that time he took many photographs which are now in the Museum of History in Seoul, Korea. Phil graduated from Swarthmore College (in Swarthmore PA) in 1965 where he majored in Engineering and met his wife, Pam (Corbett). Phil and Pam married in 1966 and moved together to Cambridge, Massachusetts, where Phil was attending Harvard Business School.

After Phil got his MBA, he was hired by Ford Motor Company and together he and Pam moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan, where they raised three daughters: Kaethe (Matt Morris), Lara (Todd Ansbacher), and Amy (Burke Curtis). He has three grandchildren: Noah and Jane MorrisHoffer, and Maggie Hoffer.

Phil enjoyed his successful 30-year career at Ford Motor Company, but his focus was always family and community. Phil’s contributions to his neighborhood and community include helping to found Project Grow and Community Day Care in Ann Arbor, and Michigan Friends Center in Chelsea, Michigan.

Phil was an active member of Ann Arbor Friends Meeting and Friends Lake Cooperative Community in Chelsea.

Phil lived the journey with Alzheimer’s for almost 17 years; he did not battle it. He was deliberately open, lifting the burden of stress on so many by sharing his situation and making others comfortable. Even after his Alzheimer’s diagnosis, Phil remained active and joyful, and spent many years volunteering with Food Gatherers and at the Day Care center in their neighborhood, where for years he would go two times a week and station himself in the library so that the kids could pick out books for “Papa Phil” to read to them. Many would try to keep him from leaving by sitting on his feet.

Phil spent his final three years living in the Memory Support Center on the Brecon Village Campus in Saline, where his wife Pam was a daily presence, where he and his family felt loving care, and where he continued to enjoy reading poetry, and spreading kindness and joy.

A celebration of his life is planned for Saturday, December 13, 2025 at 2 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Ann Arbor at 4001 Ann Arbor-Saline Road.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in his honor may be made to Michigan Friends Center (mfcenter.org).

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