Profile Text
Birth Name: Abbot Howard Hoffman
Date of Birth: November 30, 1936
Place of Birth: Worcester, Massachusetts, U.S.
Date of Death: April 12, 1989
Place of Death: Solebury Township, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Ethnicity: Ashkenazi Jewish
Abbie Hoffman was an American political and social activist, and prankster. He co-founded the Youth International Party, the “Yippies.” He was a leading proponent of the Flower Power movement, and was one of the defendants, the Chicago Seven. He wrote books including Steal This Book . He was also known as FREE! and Barry Freed.
Abbie was the son of Florence (Schamberg) and John Hoffman. His father was a Russian Jewish immigrant, who came to the U.S. c. 1910. His mother was born in Massachusetts, to Orthodox Jewish immigrant parents. He had two children with his former wife Sheila Karklin; and a son with his former wife, activist, writer, and prankster Anita Hoffman (née Kushner), who was also a Yippie.
Abbie’s paternal grandfather was named Morris Moshe Hoffman (the son of Abraham Hoffman). Morris was born in Russia. The family name was said to have originally been Shapoznikoff.
Abbie’s paternal grandmother was named Anna Kanef (the daughter of Chaim Kanef). Anna was born in Russia.
Abbie’s maternal grandfather was named Jacob Schamberg (the son of Saulman/Sol Schamberg and Ester/Rosa). Jacob was born in Austria. Saulman was born in Germany. Rosa was born in Prussia.
Abbie’s maternal grandmother was Ida Coblentz (the daughter of Abraham Coblentz and Lilla Abromevitz). Ida was born in Russia.
Sources: Genealogy of Abbie Hoffman – https://www.geni.com
Abbie’s father on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Abbie’s mother on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org