David Hoefner wore many hats. He was a retired executive for Ogden, Covanta, PECO, and Exelon energy companies.

The former Springfield and Glen Mills resident was also a longtime caregiver to his first wife, MaryLou, until her death in 2011.

Mr. Hoefner grew up in Upper Darby, graduated from Springfield High School, and was also a sculptor, volunteer, and inspirational classmate at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.

David C. Hoefner died Jan. 7 at age 77, writes Gary Miles for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

He retired in 2002 and became a full-time caregiver after his first wife fell seriously ill with frontotemporal dementia.

“He was a caring person who took every obstacle thrown his way and handled it graciously without complaint,” said his son David Jr.

He also took stone carving classes at PAFA and inspired Julio Galvez to become a sculptor.

Galvez’ dedicated a work, “Kindred Spirits,” to Mr. Hoefner, that is now part of a permanent collection at the Woodmere Museum.

Mr. Hoefner also volunteered at Penn Medicine to raise awareness and funds for neurodegenerative disease research.

He established the Cure Dementia Fund of the Philadelphia Foundation after his wife died.

Find out more about the life of David Hoefner in The Philadelphia Inquirer.