THOM 11 | Fall / Winter 2018

writing
her story,
rewriting
history
Everyone has a story to tell—that idea that sits in the back of the head,
calling insistently. Not everyone answers the call; these stories can be
very hard to tell. But bravely doing so shapes what we know about
ourselves, about our history and about our place in the world.
It’s important work, being a storyteller.
Didi Hoffman didn’t know she had a story to tell. Not
at first, anyway. In 2008 Didi was living in Philadelphia,
where she worked in marketing. That year she met Charles
Hoffman III, whom she’d eventually marry. The first time
she visited Charles’ home, Didi was immediately enamored
with the magnificent bronze figures that surrounded her. As
a student of art and having a passion for design (she’s also an
interior designer), Didi was taken by the realistic forms, their
expressive faces, the sense that they were breathing despite
being entirely still.
“It was as if I was hit by a lightning bolt,” Didi says.
11