Ann K. Hoffer

Ann Kramer Hoffer died at her home on Saturday, April 25, 2026. Born February 7, 1940 in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, she was 86 years old.

Born and raised in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, Ann spent most of her life in Carlisle and will be best be remembered for her dedication and service to its community. She graduated from the Shipley School (Bryn Mawr, PA) and then Hollins College (Roanoke, VA). After a short stint working in New York City, Ann returned to Carlisle and taught 4th grade in both the Carlisle and Cumberland Valley districts because, as she has said, “they wouldn’t let women teach history.”

Shortly after her marriage to the late Honorable George E Hoffer, she left teaching and spent much of her time volunteering for a variety of nonprofit organizations in the greater Carlisle area including the Lydia Baird home, the Carlisle Hospital Auxiliary, and Bosler Memorial Library. She was awarded the Molly Pitcher Award by the Carlisle Exchange Club in 1993. She served many roles working with the United Way of the Greater Carlisle Area and was honored by them with the 2024 Alexis de Tocqueville Humanitarian Award that acknowledges those with an outstanding volunteer service to the community. Ann was also very active with the Carlisle Arts Learning Center, supporting every aspect of CALC – including its artists and programming. In 2021 she was honored with CALC’s From the heART Award.

In 2010, Ann established the George E. Hoffer Second Chance Memorial Scholarship, in memory of her late husband. The partial tuition scholarship is awarded to youth nominated to pursue the higher or trade education or course of their choice. Since the scholarship’s inception, the program has awarded over $90,000 in support to 24 students.

Ann’s true passion was history, and since the 1970s she has been a dedicated volunteer, member, donor and leader at the Cumberland County Historical Society. She became the first woman to join the board of the society and in 1981 was elected as the first female president of the board. Over next few decades she supported the CCHS in various chairperson roles and has funded a variety of efforts at the Historical Society, both significant capital projects and a variety of innovations to help spread her passion for history. In 2024 the society introduced the “Ann Kramer Hoffer Curatorial Mentorship Program”, a two-year paid internship program made possible by Ann’s generous support which is designed to help nurture the next generation of museum professionals. She is also a published author, writing or collaborating on a number of volumes of local history. She has been awarded both the Roger K. & Helen E. Todd Distinguished Service Award and the Executive Director’s Leadership in History Award.

Ann is survived by her brother, Wm. A. Kramer, 2nd, and his wife Heather Hall, and her niece Lauren Kramer Bauer and her husband, Tyler Bauer.

A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, June 6, 2026 at Carlisle Country Club. Burial will be at the convenience of the family in the Old Graveyard, Carlisle. There will be no viewing or visitation.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Ann's name to the Cumberland County Historical Society, 21 N Pitt Street, Carlisle, PA 17013 or the Carlisle Arts Learning Center, 38 W Pomfret Street, Carlisle, PA 17013.