Words fail to capture the heartbreak of Florin Hoxha’s (Ho-Jah) tragic passing on Sept. 25, 2026, in Athens, Greece, at the age of 36, alongside his beloved wife, Eris; their unborn daughter, Bora; his cherished sister, Florida; and his brother-in-law, Ian, who had quickly become one of his closest friends.
Florin came to the United States in 2001, at the age of 11. He spoke almost no English when he arrived but learned it quickly, as he did every new challenge. A gifted mathlete, he spent much of his childhood at the jewelry store of his late grandfather, Januz, where he became the family’s human calculator. Januz loved proudly showing off his little grandson to customers as Florin converted Albanian lek to euros to U.S. dollars in his head. Florin went on to graduate from the Manhattan Center for Science and Mathematics in 2008 and Emory University in 2012, where he studied economics and mathematics while developing lifelong friendships.
Florin’s devotion to his family was his most foundational and defining quality. He loved and admired his father, Medi, who instilled in him the knowledge and work ethic that helped him build a successful career in property management across the tri-state area. He was deeply proud of his mother, Sabrie, a hospital nurse whose devotion to helping others inspired him. His bond with his siblings, Florida and Clyde, was equally central to his life; he loved them fiercely, respected them immensely, treasured their company, and regarded their happiness and well-being as inseparable from his own. In his later years, he worked alongside Clyde, strengthening a bond that already meant so much to him. Florin took on most of the work of building the family home in Westchester. It came out beautifully, and today it serves as the heart of the family, the place where everyone gathers.
That same devotion extended naturally beyond his family. When cousins arrived in New York from Albania, Florin welcomed them wholeheartedly, introducing them to the city and bringing them into his own circle of friends, just as others had once helped him find his place. With the people Florin loved, their friends became his friends, their family became his family, and the causes they cared about became causes he cared about. The same loyalty he gave his family, he gave just as completely to his friends, creating bonds that lasted a lifetime.
Florin loved throwing a party, bringing people together, and delighting friends with his infectious smile. He relished any chance to try a new restaurant, take in a live sporting event, explore nature, or shout along to one of his favorite songs. He was also always the first to notice when someone was having a hard time and took it upon himself to appear with a blanket, a bottle of water, or whatever else they might need. He was the first to offer a ride or organize a celebration, often arriving armed with surprise gifts and an enormous smile, eager to see the people he loved happy. If the people around Florin were happy, he was happy—and when Florin was happy, it was nearly impossible not to feel some of that happiness yourself. He was also the best parallel parker anyone had ever seen and a terrible dancer who never let that stop him: always the first on the dance floor, the last to leave, and never without his trademark smile.
Florin had so much life ahead of him. He was growing the successful business he had built, preparing to welcome a daughter with the love of his life, and looking forward to standing as best man at two weddings in the year ahead. Above all, Florin adored Eris and was eagerly looking forward to becoming a father to Bora. With his patience, gentle touch, playfulness, generosity, and profound devotion to family, everyone who knew him could see the extraordinary father he would have been.
Loved ones are left with an emptiness we cannot fill, but Florin’s spirit lives on in every invitation extended, every newcomer welcomed, every friend pulled onto the dance floor, and every table with room for one more. He showed us that a life is measured by the people we gather around us and the love we share with them. Florin, we will miss you more than we can say, and we will love you always as we remember your kindness, your infectious enthusiasm, your fierce loyalty to your loved ones, and your unbridled love of life. May you rest in peace together with Eris, Bora, Florida, and Ian, forever surrounded by the love you so generously gave.
Information provided by Yorktown Funeral Home
