Remembering II
So many of you who know me have heard me raving about my mom these past few weeks. I could post something about this whole process and might at a later date but let's just say I'll have to change the names of the players to protect the innocent.
Instead, here is a post on Textual Annoyances from one of my favorite sites - Mark Hurst's This Is Broken, that I think my mom would have really enjoyed (and a shout out to the memory of my Aunt Jane on this one as well).
February 16, 2006
February 08, 2006
REMEMBERING JYL
Joan Yaverbaum Leopold 1941-2006
Saturday, February 11, 2006 BY LES POWELLOf The Patriot-News
"Active" is far too weak a word to describe Joan Leopold. Leopold, 65, who died Feb. 3 at her Susquehanna Twp. home, taught geography at The Rabbi David L. Silver Yeshiva Academy in Harrisburg, where she attended first through sixth grade (her father, Irving Yaverbaum, was a founder of the school). She became the president of its parent-teacher organization and its board of directors and the chairwoman of the education committee.
"She was my mentor," said Yeshiva Academy resource teacher Cheryl Sinoway, who has been a board member, PTO co-president and education committee member.
"I saw how wise she was, what a professional she was," Sinoway said. "She knew how to accomplish her goals in a quiet, compassionate way. She was a good listener. I tried to emulate that. She had a very, very deep love for the school. I often think of her when I have to make a decision.
"She was a big part of the community, an integral part," Sinoway said. "When you have somebody so good, so decent and caring, it's difficult to lose somebody like that."
For nearly 30 years, Leopold was the director of patient education at Harrisburg State Hospital and a founder and chairwoman of its 12-member historical committee.
"It's a great loss," state Public Welfare Secretary Estelle B. Richman said of Leopold's death. "She did a great job of sustaining [the hospital's] archives."
The hospital, which officially closed in January, has retained about 50 patients pending completion of permanent homes in the community.
Leopold was instrumental in establishing the Dorothea Dix Museum on the hospital grounds. Working on behalf of the mentally ill made Dix (1802-1887) world-famous.
The museum houses such artifacts as the original 1851-83 patient admissions book, as well as a stereopticon. "I liken it to a slide projector," Leopold once said. "We have 5,000 hand-painted glass slides of famous people, faraway places, birds and animals."
A Dauphin County Library System board member until last year, Leopold "was a tireless advocate for literacy," said Karen Cullings, the library system's community relations director. "She always had her finger on the pulse of what the community needed, what the library users needed. She led by example, with a great deal of confidence and compassion."
She was a member of the Mayor's Commission on Literacy. Harrisburg Mayor Stephen R. Reed said she was a charter member who "served with strong leadership skill."
"Literacy was clearly her passion," Reed said. "She helped foster a variety of programs" for children and adults, helping them improve their potential for success in life. "She leaves a caring and humanistic legacy," he said. "She will be sorely missed."
For the last 25 years, Leopold was the executive director of the Pennsylvania Association for Adult and Continuing Education. She was a former PAACE president and received its Outstanding Adult Educator Award.
Those achievements notwithstanding, the mother of five and grandmother of 12 will likely be best-remembered as "Grandma." For the last five years, her entire family gathered in August for a weekend. After that, her seven oldest grandchildren stayed for a week of "Grandma Camp" -- amusement parks, swimming, museums, shows and factory tours.
Active in religious life, Leopold was a life member of the National Council of Jewish Women and, until illness made it impossible, a daily attendee at Beth El Temple's morning minyan, a service requiring a minimum attendance of 10.
Leopold "exemplified dignity and knowledge," Rabbi Eric Cytryn said. "What I focused on in the funeral eulogy was her wisdom." He said she considered it critical that "children had a good, intensive start in their education."
"She was very funny, had a great sense of humor," the rabbi said. "She couldn't stop talking about her husband [Marx S. "Sandy" Leopold], her children and grandchildren." Once, he recalled, her twin sons "brought their mother and father to a Grateful Dead concert," after which "she welcomed three dozen of [her sons'] friends into their home, and Joanie fed them all. She was incredibly generous."
"She was an exceptional baker," he said. "She was well-known for her coffee cakes, chocolate cakes and breakfast rolls."
Last April, the local Jewish community honored Leopold as a Community Mitzvah Hero ("mitzvah" is Hebrew for "commandment").
"She can't be replaced," Cytryn said. "Joanie exemplified ... loving kindness. She was a great leader and role model."
LES POWELL: 255-8154
http://www.pennlive.com/search/index.ssf?/base/news/113965329929520.xml?pennnews&coll=1&thispage=2
Saturday, February 11, 2006 BY LES POWELLOf The Patriot-News
"Active" is far too weak a word to describe Joan Leopold. Leopold, 65, who died Feb. 3 at her Susquehanna Twp. home, taught geography at The Rabbi David L. Silver Yeshiva Academy in Harrisburg, where she attended first through sixth grade (her father, Irving Yaverbaum, was a founder of the school). She became the president of its parent-teacher organization and its board of directors and the chairwoman of the education committee.
"She was my mentor," said Yeshiva Academy resource teacher Cheryl Sinoway, who has been a board member, PTO co-president and education committee member.
"I saw how wise she was, what a professional she was," Sinoway said. "She knew how to accomplish her goals in a quiet, compassionate way. She was a good listener. I tried to emulate that. She had a very, very deep love for the school. I often think of her when I have to make a decision.
"She was a big part of the community, an integral part," Sinoway said. "When you have somebody so good, so decent and caring, it's difficult to lose somebody like that."
For nearly 30 years, Leopold was the director of patient education at Harrisburg State Hospital and a founder and chairwoman of its 12-member historical committee.
"It's a great loss," state Public Welfare Secretary Estelle B. Richman said of Leopold's death. "She did a great job of sustaining [the hospital's] archives."
The hospital, which officially closed in January, has retained about 50 patients pending completion of permanent homes in the community.
Leopold was instrumental in establishing the Dorothea Dix Museum on the hospital grounds. Working on behalf of the mentally ill made Dix (1802-1887) world-famous.
The museum houses such artifacts as the original 1851-83 patient admissions book, as well as a stereopticon. "I liken it to a slide projector," Leopold once said. "We have 5,000 hand-painted glass slides of famous people, faraway places, birds and animals."
A Dauphin County Library System board member until last year, Leopold "was a tireless advocate for literacy," said Karen Cullings, the library system's community relations director. "She always had her finger on the pulse of what the community needed, what the library users needed. She led by example, with a great deal of confidence and compassion."
She was a member of the Mayor's Commission on Literacy. Harrisburg Mayor Stephen R. Reed said she was a charter member who "served with strong leadership skill."
"Literacy was clearly her passion," Reed said. "She helped foster a variety of programs" for children and adults, helping them improve their potential for success in life. "She leaves a caring and humanistic legacy," he said. "She will be sorely missed."
For the last 25 years, Leopold was the executive director of the Pennsylvania Association for Adult and Continuing Education. She was a former PAACE president and received its Outstanding Adult Educator Award.
Those achievements notwithstanding, the mother of five and grandmother of 12 will likely be best-remembered as "Grandma." For the last five years, her entire family gathered in August for a weekend. After that, her seven oldest grandchildren stayed for a week of "Grandma Camp" -- amusement parks, swimming, museums, shows and factory tours.
Active in religious life, Leopold was a life member of the National Council of Jewish Women and, until illness made it impossible, a daily attendee at Beth El Temple's morning minyan, a service requiring a minimum attendance of 10.
Leopold "exemplified dignity and knowledge," Rabbi Eric Cytryn said. "What I focused on in the funeral eulogy was her wisdom." He said she considered it critical that "children had a good, intensive start in their education."
"She was very funny, had a great sense of humor," the rabbi said. "She couldn't stop talking about her husband [Marx S. "Sandy" Leopold], her children and grandchildren." Once, he recalled, her twin sons "brought their mother and father to a Grateful Dead concert," after which "she welcomed three dozen of [her sons'] friends into their home, and Joanie fed them all. She was incredibly generous."
"She was an exceptional baker," he said. "She was well-known for her coffee cakes, chocolate cakes and breakfast rolls."
Last April, the local Jewish community honored Leopold as a Community Mitzvah Hero ("mitzvah" is Hebrew for "commandment").
"She can't be replaced," Cytryn said. "Joanie exemplified ... loving kindness. She was a great leader and role model."
LES POWELL: 255-8154
http://www.pennlive.com/search/index.ssf?/base/news/113965329929520.xml?pennnews&coll=1&thispage=2
After a two year battle with cancer, my mother, Joan Yaverbaum Leopold, passed away Friday morning. I was blessed to be with her on Thursday and to have grown up in her long shadow. Here is her obituary:
Joan Y. LeopoldJoan Y. Leopold, 65, of Harrisburg, died early Friday morning in her home in Susquehanna Township. She was the daughter of Irving and Esther (Landis) Yaverbaum. Joan is survived by her husband, Marx S. (Sandy) Leopold; five children and twelve grandchildren. The children are, Ann Leopold Kaplan (Larry) of North Bethesda, Maryland, Matthew Leopold (Cathy) of West Chester, Pennsylvania, John Leopold (Teresa) of Santa Cruz, California, David Leopold (Laura) of Bedminster, Pennsylvania, and Debbie Leopold Stern (Jonathan) of Paoli, Pennsylvania. She leaves sisters, Judy Goldberg of Harrisburg and Jeri Greenberg of Washington, D.C. Another sister, Jane Batt, predeceased her.
Joanie was a graduate of William Penn High School and Dickinson College. She taught at the David L. Silver Yeshiva Academy of Harrisburg, where she had been a student for her first six grades. Later she became President of the PTO and the President of the school's Board of Directors.
For nearly 30 years, Joan was the director of patient education at the Harrisburg State Hospital. There, she also was a founder of the HSH Historical Committee. She was instrumental in the founding and operation of the Dorothea Dix Museum on the hospital grounds. Joanie became active in and life member of the Pennsylvania Association for Adult and Continuing Education (PAACE). She was the president of PAACE and received its award for being the Outstanding Adult Educator. For the last twenty-five years, she has been the Executive Director of PAACE.
She was on the Board of the Dauphin County Library System for two non-consecutive periods of eight years ending in 2005. She also was a member the Mayor's Commission on Literacy since its creation and a docent at the Governor's Residence.
Joan was actively involved in religious life. She was Life Member of the National Council of Jewish Women and Hadassah and until her illness made it impossible, she was a faithful daily attendee at the morning minyan at Beth El Synagogue. However, she considered the most significant part of her religious work was as a member of the Chevra Kadisha, the Holy Society that prepares the dead for burial. For the work on behalf of Conservative Judaism, her synagogue, the Rabbi David L. Silver Yeshiva of Harrisburg, and her community, in 1995 Joanie received the Second Century Award from the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. In addition, last April, the local Jewish Community honored her as a Community Mitzvah Hero.
For the last five years, all the immediate family got together in August for a weekend. At the end of the weekend, the seven oldest grandchildren stayed for a week of "Grandma Camp". During the ensuing week the days were filled with amusement parks, swimming, museums, shows and factory tours. The true purpose of the camp was to make sure that the cousins got to really know each other.
Funeral services were held Monday, with Rabbi Eric Cytryn officiating, my borther John, sister Ann, Aunt Jery and my mom's friend Pat Taksen delivering moving eulogies. Rabby Jeffry Wohlberg spoke beautifully of her as well.
Contributions may be made to the Rabbi David L. Silver, Yeshiva Academy or the Dauphin County Library System, Attn: Joan Y. Leopold, Endowment Fund, 101 Walnut Street Harrisburg, PA 17101.
Published in the Patriot-News on 2/4/2006.
My brother david put together the following:
JOAN LEOPOLD 1941 – 2006 Joan Leopold, who for more than four decades was a force in mental health in Pennsylvania, a tireless advocate for literacy, and a significant member of the Harrisburg Jewish community, died in her sleep Friday morning, according to her husband, Sandy Leopold, the result of complications from genetic lung cancer. She was diagnosed in March 2004.
Leopold worked as a teacher and administrator for more than thirty years at the Harrisburg State Hospital, where she instituted a wide range of programs covering everything from patient voting to a daycare center for the children of hospital employees.
Leopold was a pioneer in the use of newspapers in the classroom, and was named to Newspaper in Education Hall of Fame. She helped save thousands of artifacts from destruction that told the history of the more than century old hospital, once a self-contained “city on the hill.” Leopold and the newly formed Historical Committee went on to found the award winning Dorthea Dix Museum on the grounds of the hospital. The Dix Museum used the history of the Harrisburg State Hospital to tell the story of mental health in Pennsylvania. With the Hospital’s closing at the end of 2005, the objects in the collection were integrated into the State Museum’s holdings.
Leopold, a life long resident of Dauphin County, served on the board of the County’s Library for two decades, as well as on the board of the Mayor’s Commission on Literacy, and the Pennsylvania Association for Adult Continuing Education (PAACE). For PAACE, she was an executive director and past president, and had lead the planning and hosting of the state wide organization’s annual midwinter conference for more than 25 years. The organization’s board voted in December to change the name of the PAACE Service Award to the Joan Y. Leopold Award for Service to PAACE. Through an endowment begun by Leopold’s family, the Dauphin County Library has announced that their annual Children’s Book Week will be renamed in Joan Leopold’s honor. “A tireless advocate for both child and adult literacy, Joan believed that reading opens a world of education and imagination,” said a Library spokesperson. “It lives on in her family, students, and all those she touched through her efforts."
A life long member of the Harrisburg Jewish community, she attended the Yeshiva Academy, a Jewish day school her father, Irving Yaverbaum helped found, and would eventually teach there. She sent her five children there, and eventually became board president. She sat on the board of Temple Beth El where she was a member for five decades, and served in different capacities for Saturday services. “She lived her Judaism,” said her son John. Leopold attended morning minyan nearly everyday for more than 25 years, prepared the temple’s confirmation class each year for their ceremony, and joined the Chevra Kadisha that prepares bodies for Jewish burial. “She said that she wanted to do this,” said John, “as her way of showing final respect for the community members that supported her throughout her life.”
Born in Harrisburg on January 25, 1941 to Irving and Esther Yaverbaum, Joan Leopold was the third of four daughters. A graduate of Harrisburg High School, she was part of a radio show called Teen Town Talk, started by her older sister, Judy, which featured events at the local schools. She met her future husband, Marx S. Leopold from Elkins Park, at 15 on a blind date. At 20, she graduated Dickinson College in only three years in order to get married. She had five children by the age of 26. As a young mother, she found time to be part of the National Council of Jewish Women, dedicated to preventing discrimination. She made numerous appearances at schools presenting “The Green Circle” which memorably illustrated to children the ideas of acceptance and tolerance.
For her 12 grandchildren, Leopold and her husband began a weeklong “Grandma Camp” where they took their charges to pretzel factories, children’s theater, and swimming pools “because she wanted to make sure that her grandchildren enjoyed each other’s company,” explained John, “as much as she enjoyed theirs.”
Joan Y. LeopoldJoan Y. Leopold, 65, of Harrisburg, died early Friday morning in her home in Susquehanna Township. She was the daughter of Irving and Esther (Landis) Yaverbaum. Joan is survived by her husband, Marx S. (Sandy) Leopold; five children and twelve grandchildren. The children are, Ann Leopold Kaplan (Larry) of North Bethesda, Maryland, Matthew Leopold (Cathy) of West Chester, Pennsylvania, John Leopold (Teresa) of Santa Cruz, California, David Leopold (Laura) of Bedminster, Pennsylvania, and Debbie Leopold Stern (Jonathan) of Paoli, Pennsylvania. She leaves sisters, Judy Goldberg of Harrisburg and Jeri Greenberg of Washington, D.C. Another sister, Jane Batt, predeceased her.
Joanie was a graduate of William Penn High School and Dickinson College. She taught at the David L. Silver Yeshiva Academy of Harrisburg, where she had been a student for her first six grades. Later she became President of the PTO and the President of the school's Board of Directors.
For nearly 30 years, Joan was the director of patient education at the Harrisburg State Hospital. There, she also was a founder of the HSH Historical Committee. She was instrumental in the founding and operation of the Dorothea Dix Museum on the hospital grounds. Joanie became active in and life member of the Pennsylvania Association for Adult and Continuing Education (PAACE). She was the president of PAACE and received its award for being the Outstanding Adult Educator. For the last twenty-five years, she has been the Executive Director of PAACE.
She was on the Board of the Dauphin County Library System for two non-consecutive periods of eight years ending in 2005. She also was a member the Mayor's Commission on Literacy since its creation and a docent at the Governor's Residence.
Joan was actively involved in religious life. She was Life Member of the National Council of Jewish Women and Hadassah and until her illness made it impossible, she was a faithful daily attendee at the morning minyan at Beth El Synagogue. However, she considered the most significant part of her religious work was as a member of the Chevra Kadisha, the Holy Society that prepares the dead for burial. For the work on behalf of Conservative Judaism, her synagogue, the Rabbi David L. Silver Yeshiva of Harrisburg, and her community, in 1995 Joanie received the Second Century Award from the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. In addition, last April, the local Jewish Community honored her as a Community Mitzvah Hero.
For the last five years, all the immediate family got together in August for a weekend. At the end of the weekend, the seven oldest grandchildren stayed for a week of "Grandma Camp". During the ensuing week the days were filled with amusement parks, swimming, museums, shows and factory tours. The true purpose of the camp was to make sure that the cousins got to really know each other.
Funeral services were held Monday, with Rabbi Eric Cytryn officiating, my borther John, sister Ann, Aunt Jery and my mom's friend Pat Taksen delivering moving eulogies. Rabby Jeffry Wohlberg spoke beautifully of her as well.
Contributions may be made to the Rabbi David L. Silver, Yeshiva Academy or the Dauphin County Library System, Attn: Joan Y. Leopold, Endowment Fund, 101 Walnut Street Harrisburg, PA 17101.
Published in the Patriot-News on 2/4/2006.
My brother david put together the following:
JOAN LEOPOLD 1941 – 2006 Joan Leopold, who for more than four decades was a force in mental health in Pennsylvania, a tireless advocate for literacy, and a significant member of the Harrisburg Jewish community, died in her sleep Friday morning, according to her husband, Sandy Leopold, the result of complications from genetic lung cancer. She was diagnosed in March 2004.
Leopold worked as a teacher and administrator for more than thirty years at the Harrisburg State Hospital, where she instituted a wide range of programs covering everything from patient voting to a daycare center for the children of hospital employees.
Leopold was a pioneer in the use of newspapers in the classroom, and was named to Newspaper in Education Hall of Fame. She helped save thousands of artifacts from destruction that told the history of the more than century old hospital, once a self-contained “city on the hill.” Leopold and the newly formed Historical Committee went on to found the award winning Dorthea Dix Museum on the grounds of the hospital. The Dix Museum used the history of the Harrisburg State Hospital to tell the story of mental health in Pennsylvania. With the Hospital’s closing at the end of 2005, the objects in the collection were integrated into the State Museum’s holdings.
Leopold, a life long resident of Dauphin County, served on the board of the County’s Library for two decades, as well as on the board of the Mayor’s Commission on Literacy, and the Pennsylvania Association for Adult Continuing Education (PAACE). For PAACE, she was an executive director and past president, and had lead the planning and hosting of the state wide organization’s annual midwinter conference for more than 25 years. The organization’s board voted in December to change the name of the PAACE Service Award to the Joan Y. Leopold Award for Service to PAACE. Through an endowment begun by Leopold’s family, the Dauphin County Library has announced that their annual Children’s Book Week will be renamed in Joan Leopold’s honor. “A tireless advocate for both child and adult literacy, Joan believed that reading opens a world of education and imagination,” said a Library spokesperson. “It lives on in her family, students, and all those she touched through her efforts."
A life long member of the Harrisburg Jewish community, she attended the Yeshiva Academy, a Jewish day school her father, Irving Yaverbaum helped found, and would eventually teach there. She sent her five children there, and eventually became board president. She sat on the board of Temple Beth El where she was a member for five decades, and served in different capacities for Saturday services. “She lived her Judaism,” said her son John. Leopold attended morning minyan nearly everyday for more than 25 years, prepared the temple’s confirmation class each year for their ceremony, and joined the Chevra Kadisha that prepares bodies for Jewish burial. “She said that she wanted to do this,” said John, “as her way of showing final respect for the community members that supported her throughout her life.”
Born in Harrisburg on January 25, 1941 to Irving and Esther Yaverbaum, Joan Leopold was the third of four daughters. A graduate of Harrisburg High School, she was part of a radio show called Teen Town Talk, started by her older sister, Judy, which featured events at the local schools. She met her future husband, Marx S. Leopold from Elkins Park, at 15 on a blind date. At 20, she graduated Dickinson College in only three years in order to get married. She had five children by the age of 26. As a young mother, she found time to be part of the National Council of Jewish Women, dedicated to preventing discrimination. She made numerous appearances at schools presenting “The Green Circle” which memorably illustrated to children the ideas of acceptance and tolerance.
For her 12 grandchildren, Leopold and her husband began a weeklong “Grandma Camp” where they took their charges to pretzel factories, children’s theater, and swimming pools “because she wanted to make sure that her grandchildren enjoyed each other’s company,” explained John, “as much as she enjoyed theirs.”
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