Blog: Loss

R.I.P Gloria Alpert

May 24, 1924 - March 1, 2008

Gloria Alpert, my grandmother, died early Saturday morning. She had been in the hospital since mid-January after a difficult heart valve re-replacement encountered complications.

Raised in Brooklyn, she met the love of her life, Eugene Alpert, at summer camp at the age of 16. Two years later, they were married, and remained in love until "Popop," as his grandchildren called him, passed away almost 60 years later.

In addition to being a loving grandmother, wife and mother, she was a sculptor and feminist activist, among other activities. One of her stone sculptures graced my apartments in California and New York.

Gloria became involved in feminist politics after moving from Lynbrook, Long Island to Boca Raton, Florida in 1977. As President of the Palm Beach County chapter of the National Organization for Women, she assisted with and testified in a groundbreaking NOW case against abortion clinic blockers under Florida's RICO law that stopped Operation Rescue's intimidation of women. She was honored with the Susan B. Anthony Award in 1991 for her efforts, and in later years founded a feminist scholarship fund for young Florida women to be able to attend college.

We love you Grandma, and we will miss you greatly.

posted on Mar 3, 2008 11:09 am (comment)

tags: family, loss

Q

There's a fine, fine line between a lover and a friend;
There's a fine, fine line between reality and pretend;
And you never know 'til you reach the top if it was worth the uphill climb.

There's a fine, fine line between love
And a waste of time.

There's a fine, fine line between a fairy tale and a lie;
And there's a fine, fine line between "You're wonderful" and "Goodbye."
I guess if someone doesn't love you back it isn't such a crime,
But there's a fine, fine line between love
And a waste of your time.

And I don't have the time to waste on you anymore.
I don't think that you even know what you're looking for.
For my own sanity, I've got to close the door
And walk away...
Oh...

There's a fine, fine line between together and not
And there's a fine, fine line between what you wanted and what you got.
You gotta go after the things you want while you're still in your prime...

There's a fine, fine line between love
And a waste of time.

- Kate Monster, Avenue Q

posted on Feb 8, 2006 2:01 am (1 comment)

tags: Avenue Q, loss

We Remember Them

At the rising of the sun and at its going down,
We remember them.
At the blowing of the wind and in the chill of winter,
We remember them.
At the opening of the buds and in the rebirth of spring,
We remember them.
At the shining of the sun and in the warmth of summer,
We remember them.
At the rustling of the leaves and in the beauty of autumn,
We remember them.
At the beginning of the year and at its end,
We remember them.
As long as we live, they too will live:
For they are now a part of us,
As we remember them.
When we are weary and in need of strength,
We remember them.
When we are lost and sick at heart,
We remember them.
When we have joy we crave to share,
We remember them.
When we have decisions that are difficult to make,
We remember them.
When we have achievements that are based on theirs,
We remember them.
When we fulfill their dreams, and our own,
We remember them.

As long as we live, they too will live:
For they are now a part of us,
As we remember them.

—Rabbis Sylvan Kamens and Jack Riemer

Update: correct attribution found and added thanks to a commenter.

posted on Oct 6, 2005 5:05 pm (3 comments)

tags: loss

R.I.P Sally Wishbow

July 1, 1921 - October 3, 2005

My grandmother, Sally Wishbow, died this morning, having been in nursing care for the last few months.

We called her "Grandma Rosie" because when I was little, we used to play "Ring Around the Rosie" and the name stuck. When I had chicken pox, she called me every day and we watched "Wheel of Fortune" together.

She was born in New York City, and lived in Manhattan until a few years after my mother was born, when she and my grandfather moved to Woodmere, on Long Island. She lived in Boca Raton, Florida for the last ten or so years following my grandfather's death, and will be laid to rest next to him in Queens, New York.

She was a very special grandmother, and loved her daughter and two grandsons very much.

We love you Grandma, and we will miss you greatly.

posted on Oct 3, 2005 7:46 pm (5 comments)

tags: family, loss

R.I.P Gloria Alpert

Q

We Remember Them

R.I.P Sally Wishbow

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