From: Merrie Meyers
Sent: Sunday, September 22, 2013 6:01 PM
To: Alan Levy
Cc: Julie Ruden
Subject: Lisa
Sent: Sunday, September 22, 2013 6:01 PM
To: Alan Levy
Cc: Julie Ruden
Subject: Lisa
Dear Marsha and Alan,
Lisa passed away this afternoon. She was 93.
She's begun to fail about a month or so ago. She had a type of cancer that ABC Anchor Robin Roberts had been fighting, MDS or myelodysplastic syndrome. It's a disease of the blood and bone marrow and was once known as pre-leukemia. Although, because of her age, she was not able to have the surgery to replace her bone marrow, she'd been doing quite well with regular transfusions to keep her blood counts stable. Recently, though, the transfusions had stopped having a positive effect. She's been in hospice care for the better part of a week, however, was strong and alert enough to send out emails regarding a potential hacking of her Facebook page. (Vintage Lisa, no?).
I spoke to Julie this afternoon. She passed peacefully at home in Lake Placid. Lenny is there now, and David is on his way. There will be a short service in Lake Placid and then the family will come down here for a graveside ceremony at Evergreen, where she will be laid to rest in the family's plot, next to Simon and their daughter, Susie. I don't know the particulars of the Ft. Lauderdale timeline, but Julie is thinking things will roll out later this week.
She's begun to fail about a month or so ago. She had a type of cancer that ABC Anchor Robin Roberts had been fighting, MDS or myelodysplastic syndrome. It's a disease of the blood and bone marrow and was once known as pre-leukemia. Although, because of her age, she was not able to have the surgery to replace her bone marrow, she'd been doing quite well with regular transfusions to keep her blood counts stable. Recently, though, the transfusions had stopped having a positive effect. She's been in hospice care for the better part of a week, however, was strong and alert enough to send out emails regarding a potential hacking of her Facebook page. (Vintage Lisa, no?).
I spoke to Julie this afternoon. She passed peacefully at home in Lake Placid. Lenny is there now, and David is on his way. There will be a short service in Lake Placid and then the family will come down here for a graveside ceremony at Evergreen, where she will be laid to rest in the family's plot, next to Simon and their daughter, Susie. I don't know the particulars of the Ft. Lauderdale timeline, but Julie is thinking things will roll out later this week.
I will keep you posted as to the details of the service and the Shiva. Julie wants to have a Shiva at a local hotel since there are so many people who knew and loved her. Although Donnie McCloskey is gone, there should be enough of the "old gang" that will come to remember.
After all, she came to this country as a teenager, not even finishing high school. After Simon died, as a single mom, she dabbled in the arts, started the Opera company, earned her GED, graduated from BC, and FAU, where she received her Ph.D. at 70. "Dr. Mom," as Julie nicknamed her, was such a vivacious person, that I truly believed she's outlast all of us. She survived several bouts of cancer and the loss of two husbands, and a couple of other serious ailments. Yet, despite everything, she remained such an optimist. I went to see her a couple of months ago and even though she needed a walker for strength, she had that athletic look, as though she could bound out the door to play a set of tennis in Holiday Park. It was only in the last month that she expressed fatigue and a readiness "to be done with it."
After all, she came to this country as a teenager, not even finishing high school. After Simon died, as a single mom, she dabbled in the arts, started the Opera company, earned her GED, graduated from BC, and FAU, where she received her Ph.D. at 70. "Dr. Mom," as Julie nicknamed her, was such a vivacious person, that I truly believed she's outlast all of us. She survived several bouts of cancer and the loss of two husbands, and a couple of other serious ailments. Yet, despite everything, she remained such an optimist. I went to see her a couple of months ago and even though she needed a walker for strength, she had that athletic look, as though she could bound out the door to play a set of tennis in Holiday Park. It was only in the last month that she expressed fatigue and a readiness "to be done with it."
I have fond memories of growing up as part of the extended Ruden household, sharing birthdays, holidays, and family dinners. Who knew that Lisa's "friends" were legends in the world of Opera or that she herself had a world class voice. All I knew was that she joined my grandfather, who studied to be a cantor, in stellar singing, that she made a hell of a goulash, terrific crepes and offered me a much needed a refuge from what was a rocky existence in my home. I will always have a sweet spot for "Singing Waters." her house on Solar Isle, and the people in it.
As soon as I get details, I will pass them on. Lisa certainly was a role model for me and for so many others.
Zie Gezundt, Merrie
Zie Gezundt, Merrie
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