• Obituary for Madelyn Hoffman, Green Party of New Jersey, 1956 to 2026

The Green Party of New Jersey is deeply saddened by the sudden passing of Madelyn Hoffman, a courageous activist, peace advocate, environmental champion, and longtime leader of our party. Madelyn passed away at the age of 69.

Madelyn held a B.A. cum laude from Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut obtained in 1978 and a Masters in Public Administration from Rutgers Newark obtained in 1981. She was teaching U.S. Government, Ethics, Environmental Studies and Public Speaking, while coaching ESL students in reading and writing.

For decades, Madelyn Hoffman devoted her life to peace, justice, democracy, and the protection of our environment. She was the director of the GrassRoots Environmental Organization (GREO) in New Jersey from 1983 – 1998. She worked with over two hundred citizens’ groups from every part of New Jersey on issues of toxic chemical pollution. She served for nearly 20 years as the director of New Jersey Peace Action, where she worked tirelessly to oppose war, promote nuclear disarmament, and build a more peaceful world.

Madelyn courageously challenged New Jersey's political establishment. During the early 1990s there was a series of environmental conferences where she presented as the GREO representative. Those who would make up the core foundation of the Green Party of New Jersey (GPNJ) also participated. When Ralph Nader announced that he would be willing to appear on the New Jersey ballot as a presidential candidate in 1996, Madelyn agreed to a plan where the Greens would list her on the ballot as their “local favorite daughter” Vice Presidential running mate for Nader, get exposure for her in the electoral arena, and then build from there into a 1997 campaign: “Hoffman for Governor.” The occasion of the launching of the latter campaign was also the opportunity to formally establish GPNJ as an organization.

In 2018, Madelyn returned to electoral politics and ran against Senator Bob Menendez; and in 2020 she ran against Senator Cory Booker. Finally in 2021, she ran again, this time for Governor of New Jersey against the incumbent, Phil Murphy. Her campaigns rejected the influence of corporate money and gave a powerful voice to working people, activists and communities too often ignored by the two-party system.

Madelyn inspired generations of activists through her compassion, determination, and unwavering commitment to Green values. She understood that peace, economic justice, environmental protection, and grassroots democracy are inseparable. Her passing is a tremendous loss to the Green Party US, the Green Party of New Jersey and movements for peace and justice worldwide. We extend our deepest condolences to her family, friends, and all whose lives she touched.

“I admired Madelyn’s passion for doing what was right at all cost, her commitment to build peace and her vast knowledge. She became my mentor and I’m grateful that she always pushed me to do more because she believed in me. The last memory that I have of us together was a year ago sitting in my living room having a conversation where she said to me ‘life is too short to not be happy. You need to do what makes you happy in life before it is too late. Think about that and take the decisions you need to take’. She found her happiness when she moved to Colombia and just the fact that she loved my country so much made me feel more close to her. I was supposed to write one or two sentences but it’s hard when we are talking about an amazing human being like Madelyn. We could talk for days about her!

- Lily Benavides, GPNJ Co-Chair & GPUS Latinx Caucus Co-Chair

“We honor and remember the life of a courageous woman whose profound dedication to Palestinian liberation and human rights left an enduring mark on the world. Madelyn Hoffman was guided by a deep moral compass and the universal values of justice, equality, and co-existence. She used her voice to stand in solidarity with the oppressed and challenge injustice. She wrote the book “A Fleeting Glance” to expose the injustices that Israel commits on a daily basis and their apartheid system. She believed that true freedom and safety can only exist when they are extended to all people. She spoke truth to power with unwavering dignity, bridge-building, and compassion. We express our deepest gratitude for her lifetime of advocacy, her moral clarity, and her relentless pursuit of a just peace. May her memory be a blessing, and may her legacy continue to inspire future generations to stand up for dignity, equality, and liberation for all. She was an amazing woman and may she rest in eternal peace and power.”

- Anam Raja, GPNJ member

“Though Madelyn had physical restrictions, she was like the energizer bunny when it came to political campaigns. I have a very fond memory of being with her in Bordentown the day after Halloween going door to door for one of her Senate campaigns. I have pictures of her posing with the statue of Thomas Paine that’s at the edge of town. I will share those pictures soon. I’ll never forget when she came back from a visit to Colombia when she visited the Amazon and was painted purple. This was to keep her safe from the insects there, but it sure was funny! I’ll miss Madelyn every day of my life. We had our moments but always let them pass and got on with the work at hand. You will never find a kinder soul on this planet than Madelyn Hoffman.”

- Barry Bendar, Elections Chair - The Green Party of New Jersey

“I first met Madelyn at a GPNJ convention in 2017, though I had followed her on Facebook for several years before that. I found her views on every issue to be that same as mine, and when we met, we immediately hit it off. In the past 11 years, I found she was a strong, brilliant, compassionate person who had some physical disabilities, but pushed through them to be in the forefront of the antiwar, anti-genocide, pro environment, pro peace, advocate for workers’ and civil rights. In 2025, she had to come back to the United States to straighten out her documentation so she could return to her home in Colombia. Her arrangements to stay somewhere while she was here fell through just as she was about to move in. I offered to let her stay in the extra rooms in my house, where she lived for the last two months of 2025. She quickly learned about all the public transportation services she would need to continue to schlep to Trenton to get and submit the documentation she needed to return to her home, while also trekking all over New Jersey, and into New England, for countless Green Party, labor, anti-ICE, anti-genocide, pro-people actions. I admired her constant striving to improve herself and do as much with her life as possible. She was a writer who wrote the book “A Fleeting Glance” about the plight of Palestinians oppressed and brutalized by Israeli Occupation Forces and the Israeli government. She spent much of her free time writing. She was planning for her next book while she lived with me. When she returned to Colombia, I had no idea that would be the last time I would see her in person. My life was made richer for having known her.”

- Robin Brownfield, Member - Green Party of New Jersey

“My chapters with Madelyn began when she was about to finish up her tenure with NJ Peace Action spring of 2018. Myself and others pitched her to come back to the Green Party to run against Menendez for U.S. Senate. I believe she was already planning to do so since everything came together very quickly and I was proud to serve on her campaign team. I learned right away that Madelyn always showed and attended any event across New Jersey. I think we attended nearly a hundred different rallies in support of others in that short time together. Her fighting for police accountability, voting rights for those 16 years of age, improved medicare for all, the environment, peace and ending all wars was just a short sample I saw. I will always admire her tenacity and love for all living beings and creatures.

When she would enter a room you might not always see her at first. Once a microphone or bullhorn was nearby to grab you definitely heard her and focused on what she was saying. She had a way of carrying the room and engaging with so many people. Her gubernatorial campaign with Heather Warburton for Lt. Governor, was led solely by many young high schoolers. These Young EcoSocialists were already experiencing distrust in two-party politics, facing a climate catastrophe, just started embracing the green movement and perspectives, believed in her. Those formative years of the GPNJ YES Caucus laid the groundwork not only for our state party but in other states still lives on today.

Mother Earth may have lost an advocate and voice for the people this week but she gained a forever friend in the afterlife. I will always cherish my chapters with Madelyn. We were not only friends but family. She was one of my mentors giving me a reason to use my voice along with many others these last eight years. I’ll look back on all the actions, campaigns and laughs shared. Collectively we will keep up the spirit and fight you instilled in us all while continuing to advocate for peace and an end to all wars!”

- Craig Cayetano, Steering Co-Chair Green Party U.S. & Communications Chair - Green Party of New Jersey.

We will honor Madelyn's legacy by continuing her work toward a peaceful, sustainable, and just world.