Muriel Fischer Hoff

Muriel Fischer Hoff was born on March 8, 1923, in New York City, to parents Joseph and Henrietta Fischer. She was the eldest of two daughters. Her younger sister, Doris Fischer Feibelman, predeceased Muriel by only one and a half years.

As a young woman in NYC, Muriel worked as a stenographer and legal secretary and was an avid reader, often frequenting the libraries. Some of her favorite pastimes were writing music and poetry, but she was also known for having a vivacious, outgoing personality and her company was enjoyed by everyone.

Muriel met her future husband, George Hoffenberg (later changed to Hoff), at a dance in NYC and it was love at first sight, especially for Muriel. George graduated as a pharmacist from Fordham University and served in the Navy during the second world war. After the war ended, Muriel and George married and they started a family with their first son and daughter, David and Ellen.

In 1953, Muriel and George relocated their family to Greensboro, NC, after Muriel’s father, Joseph, offered George a business in office equipment sales. They soon had two more children, Cindi and Stephen, and having loved Greensboro, they lived there for the rest of their lives.

For nearly 60 years, Muriel and George became pillars of the Jewish community being instrumental in many activities within Beth David Synagogue. As an active volunteer, she would take on many responsibilities, serve as chairman on several committees, and eventually became President of the sisterhood. In addition, she and her husband created the George and Muriel Hoff Camp Ramah Endowment Fund and the George and Muriel Hoff Philanthropic Foundation. She may be most recognized, to this day, for her yearly contribution of poetry that graced the cover of the Beth David Synagogue’s High Holiday booklet for over 25 years.

Muriel’s gift for writing was not limited to inspiring humanity through her deeply spiritual poetry, but also included musical and lyrical writing, playwriting, and short stories. She was always able to turn out a wonderful birthday or congratulatory poem on a moment’s notice.

Muriel authored eight books of poetry as well as being included in a dozen poetry anthology works. In 2013, she was honored by the Maurice Greenberg Center of Judaic Studies of the University of Hartford that established the Muriel Hoff American Jewish Poetry Award. This award will be presented annually to an American poet whose published poetry is considered to have significance for the American Jew. Her works are archived by the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Her poetry writing has received accolades from authors and scholars. The author Yossi Klein Halevi has said, “For years, Muriel has enriched us with her bracing words of faith and courage. Muriel reminds us of what it means to walk with God, and how to perceive His presence in this broken world. As a grateful reader, I feel privileged to stand with Muriel.”

Also, the late scholarly professor Dr. Irving Block of University of Western Ontario, Canada had this to say about her writing, “You can read her book Messages Via Muriel over and over again and always find something new. It is for all human beings of every religion. It is the solution to the world’s problems, if people could only hear what it is saying.”

Rabbi Eliezer Havivi, the previous Rabbi of Beth David Synagogue said this, “Muriel Hoff’s messages are majestic thoughts clothed in regal words. Her poems yearning for God’s touch and for human embrace are inspiring companions for any spiritual seeker.”

Muriel loved to pray for the wellbeing of others when they became ill. Always saying that “I will send you God’s healing light and love. Just imagine God’s healing light and love coming into your being.” And it usually helped.

Muriel leaves behind her son David, daughter Cindy, and son Stephen. Her daughter Ellen Rio Watson (of blessed memory) passed away in 2008 and her husband George (of blessed memory) passed away in 2010. Muriel also leaves behind the wife of David who is Nina and their daughter Esther. Muriel also leaves behind the husband of Ellen Rio who is Dan Watson.

Please celebrate a life well lived, Muriel Hoff, she will continue to be a blessing in the memory of all who know of her personally, and thru her deeds and writings.

If you would like to make a donation in her memory, please do so through either Beth David Synagogue or Chabad of Greensboro, both places of worship she admired.

Donations may be made to the George and Muriel Camp Ramah Endowment Fund.

Thank you for your prayers.

The family will sit shiva at Beth David Monday and Tuesday, February 27 and 28 @ 4:45pm.