Barbara Ann Crancer (née Hoffa; born April 8, 1938) is an American retired lawyer and judge who was a St. Louis County, Missouri Associate Circuit Court Judge. She is the daughter of former Teamsters Union president Jimmy Hoffa and Josephine (née Poszywak) Hoffa.

Barbara Ann Crancer
Associate Circuit Judge of the 21st Missouri Circuit Court
In office
July 1992 – March 2008
Personal details
Born
Barbara Ann Hoffa

(1938-04-08) April 8, 1938 (age 86)
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Spouse
Robert E. Crancer
(m. 1961; died 2023)
[1]
Children1
Parent
RelativesJames P. Hoffa (brother)
EducationAlbion College (BA)
Washington University in St. Louis (JD)

Early life and education

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Crancer was born in Detroit, Michigan. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Albion College in 1960, and a Juris Doctor degree from the Washington University School of Law. After her father's disappearance, Crancer claimed that she had a vision of her father, who, she was already sure, was dead. He was slumped over and wore a dark-colored, short-sleeved polo shirt. It has mystified her ever since that although she could not have possibly known that prior to her arrival at Lake Orion, the clothing in her vision was exactly what Hoffa was wearing when he disappeared.[2]

Career

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Crancer worked as a private practice lawyer in St. Louis through 1989 when she was appointed legal advisor and then administrative law judge for Missouri Division of Workers' Compensation, serving until 1992. In July 1992, Crancer was appointed to associate circuit judge for St. Louis County, Missouri Crancer retired in March 2008, but in March 2009, she agreed to serve as an assistant attorney general for the Division of Civil Disability and Workers Rights.[3] She retired from that post in March 2011.[4]

Personal life

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Crancer was married to Robert E. Crancer (b. November 17, 1936) from 1961 until his death in 2023. They have one daughter, Barbara Josephine Crancer (b. 1963) and one grandson.[5]

Her younger brother is James P. Hoffa, former president of the Teamsters Union. While the siblings grew up in Detroit, the Hoffa family also spent time at their summer cottage in Orion Township, Michigan.[6]

References

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  1. ^ Krance, Magda. "HOFFA'S DAUGHTER". chicagotribune.com.
  2. ^ Hendrickson, Paul (June 17, 1991). "THE FIGHTING SPIRIT OF JIMMY HOFFA'S KIDS". Washington Post. Retrieved June 6, 2019.
  3. ^ Koster names Judge Barbara Crancer to head new division on worker, disability and civil rights, Attorney General's News Release, Missouri Attorney General's Office, February 23, 2009. Archived May 27, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ "The Honorable Barbara Ann Crancer Associate Circuit Judge, Division 31". St Louis County. Retrieved July 7, 2009.[dead link]
  5. ^ "Robert Crancer Obituary". www.legacy.com.
  6. ^ How one man's bad luck paved way for creation of Cranbrook The Detroit News, January 14, 2002. Archived May 11, 2011, at the Wayback Machine