Geraldine Hoff Doyle

Geraldine Hoff was born on 31 July 1924, daughter to her father Cornelious, an electrical contractor, and her mother Augusta, a composer.  From the early years, life was challenging for Geraldine: her father died of pneumonia when she was only 10 years old, and her mother had scoliosis.

As she grew, so did her love of music. She became known for her abilities both with the cello and with her voice. She even soloed with bands in the early 1940s. She eventually graduated at the age of 17 from high school in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Geraldine soon found work as a metal presser in the factories of American Broach & Machine Co. (also in Ann Arbor). As men were drafted into the military to go to war in Europe during World War II, many women found work in what had previously been considered "male only" employment (like work in factories). However, after hearing of an injury to the hands of a previous employee, she soon changed jobs, fearing what such an injury might do to her future in playing the cello.

Her employment switched to a soda fountain and bookshop, also located in Ann Arbor. It was here that she wooed a young dental school student, Leo Doyle. Soon after, they were married. The two remained married until his death in 2010.