Obituary: Jill Soffer
March 1, 1959 – October 3, 2023
Local resident Jill Soffer passed away from cancer, surrounded by family, friends and dogs, at her beloved mountain ranch on October 3, 2023. She was 64 years old.
Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Jill was mostly raised in Weston, MA. She graduated from Concord Academy ’77 in Massachusetts, a high school she felt deeply connected to. Jill completed her studies at Brown University and Barnard College with a focus on Russian literature.
After college she moved to Santa Monica, CA and built her reputation as an interior designer and LEED developer of sustainable homes.
In 2004, Jill – passionate environmentalist and animal lover — bought a ranch in Missouri Heights. The Soffer family has deep ties to the Aspen area, and as a young person Jill spent many seasons in the Roaring Fork Valley skiing, hiking and building friendships that would ultimately last a lifetime.
Jill’s life was a testament to her deep connection with nature and her unwavering commitment to environmental causes, both locally and nationally. A major donor to the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), a board member of the Sierra Club Foundation and the Wilderness Workshop, she also created her own foundation, Our Part, a nonprofit that funds initiatives to fight the climate crisis and protect democracy for all. Jill also launched Banking for Climate, a network of high-net worth individuals who pressured their banks to stop funding and supporting the fossil fuel industry.
Jill made very strategic real estate decisions. In 2020, she financially supported land acquisitions that blocked the development of the Tar Sands Pipeline in Northern Minnesota. In August, 2023, she dedicated 285 acres of her own land between Spring Park Reservoir and the base of Basalt Mountain as a conservation easement, forever limiting development and protecting vital wildlife habitat.
Jill herself was a force of nature. She was tenacious, often stubborn, a brilliant critical thinker and voracious reader with a profound appreciation for beauty and creativity. She also threw great parties, baked incredible pies and was one of the funniest people you could ever meet. For those fortunate to be close to her, her generosity was unparalleled.
Family was the center of Jill’s life. In her final days, she was lovingly cared for by her family, her friends, her partner Steve Elder and by her dogs: Charlie, Roxanne, Scooby and Rocky. She is survived by her father, her seven siblings and large extended family who will forever hold her memory close to their hearts.
May we all be inspired by Jill’s life’s work to cherish our natural wonders and resources.
To honor Jill’s life’s work, the family requests that donations be made to either the Sierra Club https://act.sierraclub.org/donate/rc_connect__campaign_designform?id=7010Z000001P1fAQAS or
Jill’s personal foundation, Our Part. Checks to Our Part can be sent to: 3435 Ocean Park Blvd. #107 PMB 457, Santa Monica, CA 90405
