Rob Hoffman
I just found out tonight that Lela passed last year, my heart is very heavy for the loss but I also see that she lived to almost 100 which makes sense considering what kind of life she chose to live. God truly rewards the righteous. So, here is my story. I grew up in Yonkers, NY and Lela was in my life since I was a small boy. She helped to raise me and never failed to straighten me out when I needed it. She and my Mom respected and loved each other, that was really obvious. I can remember one time when I made the mistake of challenging her right to control/manage my “kid like” petulant attitude and she made it quickly apparent to me who was in charge and believe this....it wasn’t me! Later on when I was home in break fir holidays and Lela was in the house, I remember explaining to my relatives who were there for a family party who Art was and what he had accomplished at Syracuse while I was at Ithaca and later with the Redskins.....she wanted no part of any bragging rights or attention. Obviously she was so proud of Artie but she had enormous class and I felt obligated to explain to my Yale cousins who were clueless exactky who Artie was and what he’d done with his life. I knew that he had navigated through all of the dysfunction that can come with pro football and fame mainly because of her. Thats a huge statement. I also knew back then that unlike many other parents of accomplished athletes, she refused for a long time to accept anything and continued to “pull her own weight”.
Long story short.....amazingly strong principled woman with character and grace....she will be missed enormously as well she should be.
Rob Hoffman
Thursday August 2, 2018 at 10:30 pm
