Laura Hoffman West

HARBOR SPRINGS, Mich. – Laura Hoffman West, resident of Piper Shores in Scarborough, died July 10, 2026.

Laura was born in Detroit, Mich. and raised in Toledo, Ohio. Her childhood included time abroad; in 1946 and 1947, her family lived in China, where her father worked with the United Nations, aiding children orphaned by World War II and the Chinese Civil War. Laura attended the Shanghai American School, the oldest continuously operating international school in China.

Laura received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work from the University of Michigan, where she met Byron Lee West. Laura and “By” were married in 1956. In Toledo, through her work at the Cummings-Zucker Center (now called Harbor), Laura worked to serve children and families facing emotional and developmental challenges. She retired in 1997 after more than a decade as the center’s director and received the Lifetime Achievement Award from Ohio’s chapter of the National Association of Social Workers.

In 2006, Laura and By moved to Harbor Springs, Mich. where they enjoyed sailing and hosting family reunions every summer. In 2015, By and Laura became winter residents of Piper Shores.

Laura is survived by her husband, Byron West; her sister, Kay Hoffman Bensman of Marco Island, Fla; son, Brent West (Tina) of Yarmouth, daughter Lisa West Alpert (Mark) of New York City, N.Y.; grandchildren, Tommy Alpert, Sarah Alpert, Jacob Merrill, Molly West Dearing (Danny); and great-granddaughter, Blake Danielle Dearing.

A Celebration of Life will be held with a private gathering of Laura’s immediate family.

The family warmly requests that condolences for and memories of Laura be sent by email to [email protected].

Memorial contributions may be made to Harbor.org, the University of Michigan School of Social Work, or the Little Traverse Conservancy.