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Michele Hoffmann Date of Birth: February 21, 1974 Position: Broker’s Assistant, Mortgage Back Security Department Taken from the eulogy read by Emma and Carl Betta at the Hoffmann Memorial Service: As the Greek philosopher Plato said, “Without friends, no one would choose to live, Though he had all other goods.” Something quite special happened to our family approximately 22 years ago—we met Gail, Fred, Nicole and Michele Hoffmann. From simple acquaintance grew Friendship and, ultimately, extended family. We have had the privilege to share in joy and grief, to rejoice in watching children grow, to grow together. We consider Gail and Fred’s family as our own. In the case of Michele, in particular, we have seen her grow from a beautiful, feisty little girl to a beautiful, feisty young woman who had the uncanny ability to make us laugh. Admittedly, sometimes we laughed at her, because, along with her stubbornness and determination, she exhibited a childlike quality, both charming and amusing. Her best friend, Tara, commented to us that she couldn’t imagine having grown up without Michele, that Michele had a way of bringing out the best in her friends. One of the qualities that Tara recognized in Michele was her honesty, a rare quality indeed. Michele cared about the success, the happiness of her friends. She was a beautiful person, both inside and out, and could light up a room with her laugh, her flashing smile, her dazzling eyes and her confidence. No one who met Michele could forget her. The world has lost a beautiful person, who loved and will always be loved by her family and her friends. Michele would want us to move on, to go back to living our lives. After all, Michele had perfected the art of living life to the fullest. As her most beautiful and courageous mother said to me this week, Michele could shop with the best. Michele, we are certain that flights of angels have sung you to your rest and that you are cradled in God’s arms. We will forever hold you lovingly in our hearts.
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Tributes
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Michele~
Words could never express how deeply you are missed. You could always be counted on to listen and to care. You helped me to put life into perspective; to become the person that I am today. There were so many unique qualities about you to be admired. Your generosity and strength were evident in all aspects of your life, and these attributes were inspiring to those around you. We used to joke that we were sisters, and even though we are not, the bond that we share is as close and special as any that real sisters share. With each passing day the memories only grow brighter. Until I am right there next to you with all of the other angels in Heaven, you will be here with me in my heart.
I love you and miss you dearly~
Tara
Although, Michele and I went to high school together, we did not become close friends until six years after graduation. People who did not know Michele may have admired her for her outer beauty, but I admired her for the exquisite and wonderful person she was inside. It was always fun and exciting to be around Michele, she has made me do some crazy things. I am grateful to have learned from Michele that life is worth living to the fullest as she did. Our days on the beach, our nightlife and the countless hours spent talking on the phone will be cherished. Michele, I miss YOU immeasurably!
Michele and my husband John Gnazzo worked together for some time. When I first started dating John I went up to Cantor and I couldn’t help complimenting Michele to John. I said she is beautiful. As time went on Michele, my brother Albee, John, Tommy (Toad) and I all met up at a Jersey shore club and I got to see that not only did she have outer beauty she had inner beauty as well. A smile that could launch a thousand ships. I have to believe that Michele, Mr. Hoffman, John and the rest of the Cantor crew are watching over us, in a better place, otherwise I probably wouldn’t be able to go on. My condolences to the Hoffman family. I keep you, like the others in my prayers. May Michele and her Daddy R.I.P.
I find it so terribly difficult to find the words that no mother ever wants to have to think about when she thinks about her precious child. As I write, I can only wish that it were Michele writing about me. I recently chose a card to help express my feelings to my daughter on what would have been her 28th birthday. The verse is simple, yet so beautiful and so perfectly fitting. It reads:
My little girl.
A grown-up woman.
Heart-stoppingly lovely.
Amazingly brilliant.
Everything I knew you’d be.
And more. So much more.
Happy Birthday!
I will always think of my daughter, Michele, as a precious gift from God who brought much joy, laughter, and yes, even some gray hair into my life. She was an extremely outgoing young lady with a charming, sensitive and generous nature. Michele had a zest for life that was contagious. From a very young age, she earned herself the title of “Miss Social Butterfly” for a huge circle of friends always surrounded her.
Michele’s loss is overwhelming. My beautiful daughter was taken from me way too soon. Although she enjoyed a rich life, she also had a promising future. I will forever miss her sparkling blue eyes; impish grin; weekend fashion shows; messy room; our shopping sprees together; and all her questions such as how many calories do you think this has; how do I look; does this make me look fat; do you think he’s cute; and do you like him. But most of all, I will miss her waking her father and me up at two or three in the morning to say that she is home.
Michele, I pray that you are tucked tightly in your father’s arms until I can hold you once again in mine. Please kiss your father for me and know that my love is forever with you both. As I look often toward the heaven above, I think of you basking in God’s eternal light surrounded by your angel friends.
Taken from the eulogy read by Emma and Carl Betta at the Hoffmann Memorial Service:
As the Greek philosopher Plato said, “Without friends, no one would choose to live, Though he had all other goods.”
Something quite special happened to our family approximately 22 years ago—we met Gail, Fred, Nicole and Michele Hoffmann. From simple acquaintance grew friendship and, ultimately, extended family. We have had the privilege to share in joy and grief, to rejoice in watching children grow, to grow together. We consider Gail and Fred’s family as our own.
In the case of Michele, in particular, we have seen her grow from a beautiful, feisty little girl to a beautiful, feisty young woman who had the uncanny ability to make us laugh. Admittedly, sometimes we laughed at her, because, along with her stubbornness and determination, she exhibited a childlike quality, both charming and amusing.
Her best friend, Tara, commented to us that she couldn’t imagine having grown up without Michele, that Michele had a way of bringing out the best in her friends. One of the qualities that Tara recognized in Michele was her honesty, a rare quality indeed. Michele cared about the success, the happiness of her friends. She was a beautiful person, both inside and out, and could light up a room with her laugh, her flashing smile, her dazzling eyes and her confidence. No one who met Michele could forget her. The world has lost a beautiful person, who loved and will always be loved by her family and her friends.
Michele would want us to move on, to go back to living our lives. After all, Michele had perfected the art of living life to the fullest. As her most beautiful and courageous mother said to me this week, Michele could shop with the best.
Michele, we are certain that flights of angels have sung you to your rest and that you are cradled in God’s arms. We will forever hold you lovingly in our hearts.
I worked with Michele for about 2 years, we both started at Cantor around the same time. I have never been around somebody so beautiful and so full of life. She was truly a good person. My thoughts and prayers go out to her family.
Dear Michelle-“the Hoff” as I used to call her, you have radiant beauty and always had your head up high. You will be missed.
I worked with Michele for a couple of years and in all that time no one had a sweet a laugh. She was funny, down to earth, and loved by all (as was Fred). She was truly one of the best. Her family is in my thoughts and prayers…
Michele worked with me for almost 2 years before she went to the trading to become a typist. She was a very hard and dedicated worker. She was always willing to help other in any way she could. When Michele went to the trading room I lost my right hand person. I always got to see Michele at least once a day. She always had a wonderful smile and was full of life. Michele like so many other of the young people that lost their live on that tragic day had bright future ahead of them. But I know that Michele and her father are in good hands now. My heart goes out to the Hoffmann and Cosenza Family at such a tragic time.
I was a friend of Michele for about two years. Michele was a beautiful person, outer beauty was evident but her inner beauty is what we all admire about her. She always had a smile and brought joy to all the lives she touched. I miss the days of haning out with her at the Jersey shore and miss the late nights of eating “Nachos” while recapping the night. I will treasure those days for as long as I may live. Michele is deeply missed and my prayers go out to her family and friends. I love and miss you!
Shelly, I wish I could put into words how much you are missed. There is not a day that goes by I don’t think of you. All the memories we had will never be erased from my mind. I always looked up to you in so many ways and when I was younger I remember always wanting to be just like you. I’ll never forget the times you used to babysit me and Jilly or when you and FT took me to my first World Series game at Yankee Stadium. You were always surrounded by great friends and you left a mark on everyone who knew you. I hope you know how much you were admired by so many people, including myself. I miss you so much. Give Uncle Fred a big hug for me. I love you.
“All those memories we share, I will cherish every one of them” -Creed
Love,
Jess
I did not know you, Michele. After reading the tributes to you in the memorial website, I certainly wish that I did. My son lives three blocks from the World Trade Center and witnessed the horror of September 11th from his twenty-second floor apartment. The window to his apartment was open when the towers collapsed. Amid the debris that filled the apartment was a partially burned document with Cantor Fitzgerald printed on the top with an SEC file number. The name “Michele” is hand printed next to a project outline question involving market data and quote services. I suspect this refers to you. My son wanted me to frame this document as a reminder of what he witnessed. In doing so, I included an explanation about the reference and these words, “From the numerous tributes paid to Michele, may this surviving document also serve as a reminder that life is precious and must be lived each day to its fullest and that no act of terror can diminish the power of the human spirit to “go on” with life and our faith in and love of God.”
Michele, Here I sit, clueless in front of the computer! Finally in the 21st century!Oh how proud you would be (must be). I was with you in my dreams last night, so I figured that maybe I should write to you today. I miss you so much. 2 years may seem like a long time, and it is, but not long enough to stop thinking about you or needing your guidance. There is so much that you would be proud of, and so much for you to laugh at/with!(for starters, why am I writing you a note on the computer!!??) The genuine bond that we had is only growing stronger with time, and I never will stop looking to you for advice. What would Michele tell me to do? What would Michele say? (Hmmm, wait, maybe I don’t want to know!)Well, wish me luck with my new endeavor- Thinking of you always,Tara
The laughter
memories
hard times
trivialities
making sure our hair was right
perfect eyes
in the light
Trying hard to stand
holding on to hands
knowing that we’d never fall
thinking that we knew it all
I held you in the spot light
you were a shining star
The memories
and trivialities
You’re a fallen angel
left to fall behind
not knowing the reason
ravished by the blind
If I could pick you up
wipe your wounds away
If I could hold you in
my arms
I’d carry you away
From the fall-
Shelly, it’s taken me so long to get up the courage to write on this site only because I had no words for the sorrow I feel now that you and Uncle Fred are gone. I guess I was just always trying to think of the perfect things to say and I just couldn’t.
I think about you all the time. I keep a picture on my nightstand taken about 29 years ago of you, Nicole and myself at Pop-Pop’s house. I think of the three of us often and how it was always the three of us. My memories of our old houses in Brooklyn when we lived right across the street from each other, to Pop-Pop’s house, to our Pocono ski trips, to our renting of only scary movies, to the Belmar days, to our Cantor days of working right across from each other. What great times… I could go on and on.
Anyway, we love amd miss you so much and maybe one day you’ll come with Uncle Fred to visit me in my dreams. I just want to say hello.
Love you kiddo,
Tommy
Such a beautiful young lady – such a loss and such a waste. My sadness and sympathies to the family who have had to live such a long time with so much loss….Michele and her Father. Thinking of you all on 05/04/2011.
Tracey P XX