Born: August 2, 1916
Died: June 10, 2014
Married: Phil Wolff, October 19, 1940
Children: Cynthia, Dave, Steve
Elsie Hughes Wolff and her husband Phil celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary in 2010, along with Elsie's 94th birthday and Phil's 95th birthday. They were long-time residents of Saranac Lake, raising their three children here, and operating a greenhouse in Ray Brook and a florist shop in Saranac Lake for 40 years. They had a camp on Lake Kiwassa.
Adirondack Daily Enterprise, June 11, 2014
Elsie H. Wolff
Elsie H. Wolff, 97, oldest daughter of Walter and Jennie (Jones) Hughes, died June 10, 2014 in San Diego, California.
She was born on Aug. 2, 1916 in New York Mills, a suburb of Utica; and lived most of her life in Ray Brook and Saranac Lake where she and husband Phil raised their three children and ran Wolff Your Florist.
Elsie graduated two years early from high school and then worked for those two years to earn enough money for college, entering Cornell University, the first in her family to attend college. Although she wanted to be a doctor, those courses were too expensive, so she enrolled in the College of Home Economics in September 1935, graduating with a degree in chemistry in 1939. She received her master’s degree in clinical dietetics from the University Hospitals of Cleveland, affiliated with Case Western Reserve University, in September 1940.
Elsie met Phil Wolff, her husband of more than 70 years, when he beat two fraternity brothers to ask her out to the fraternity party, phoning her when he was dummy during a fraternity bridge game. They shared a life-long love of dancing, something they started in college and enjoyed for many years. They loved to travel and to entertain. Elsie’s Monday night ladies’ nights were legendary.
Elsie’s first experience in the Adirondacks was working as a waitress at the Bartlett Carry Club and then at the Mirror Lake Inn during the summers. When she and Phil fell in love at Cornell, there was no question where they would live. Phil was unsure of choice of profession, however, until she told him he could be a florist with her or a farmer without her, and Wolff Your Florist was born.
Shortly after her graduation in 1940, Phil and Elsie were married and became permanent residents of Saranac Lake. They built and operated the Wolff Your Florist greenhouses in Ray Brook, NY, which Elsie ran during the three years (’43-’46) that Phil was fighting in the South Pacific during World War II.
Their first child, Cynthia, was born shortly after Phil was drafted in 1943. When he returned in mid-1946, Phil found a business that was not only thriving, but had been expanded by Elsie to include a small shop in downtown Saranac Lake. Phil and she co-managed the business until it was sold in 1981.
After her youngest son left home for college, Elsie also went back to college at SUNY Plattsburg to reactivate her membership in the American Dietetic Association. She worked for 10 years as a Registered Dietician at Will Rogers Hospital until it closed, then at Lake Placid General Hospital, retiring in 1980.
Throughout her life Elsie was very active in the community, including chairwoman of the North Elba Republican Women’s Club.
A member of the Saranac Lake Girls Scouts Council, she worked to raise money for establishment of the Girl Scout camp on Lake Clear. She was a Girl Scout troop leader as well as a Cub Scout leader.
A frequent volunteer at the Saranac Lake Free Library, she also assisted with the annual book sale for more than 30 years.
An officer and longtime member of the Saranac Lake College Club.
Secretary and Treasurer of the General Hospital Ladies Auxiliary.
A member of the committee that planned, funded, and developed the Uihlein Living Center in Lake Placid where she served on its Advisory Board for 35 years, after it opened.
In their retirement years, Elsie and Phil spent winters in Rancho Bernardo, a suburb of San Diego, including 12 years at Casa de las Campanas. The library circulation in each location increased significantly when Elsie was there. While at Casa she was asked to continue to utilize her training as a dietician in support of Casa’s culinary services. She also loved crossword puzzles and created many needlepoint pillows for friends and family.
She is survived by her three children: Cynthia Wolff of San Diego, California (Bill Copeland), David of Saranac Lake (Holly) and Steve of Poway, California (Stephanie) and four grandsons: David (D.J.), Stephen, Alexander; and Andrew (Drew).
She was predeceased by her husband Phil; her three brothers: Thomas, Huckle, and Art; and two younger sisters: Ollie and Fernie.
In memory of Elsie, the family welcomes donations to The Elizabeth Hospice, 500 La Terraza Boulevard, Suite 130, Escondido, CA 92025. A gathering to celebrate Elsie’s memory will be held at a later date in Saranac Lake.
