Linda passed away on June 19th after a courageous battle against a very aggressive form of ALS.Linda grew up in Allen Park, attending Allen Park public schools. Linda's high school years were marked by advanced science classes and synchronized swimming. We met at a APHS dance in the spring of1963 (Linda's freshman year and my sophomore year). We married in 1969 (55+years) but we were together for more than 60 years!
Between Linda's junior and senior years, she participated in a summer project which introduced in-depth science concepts to upcoming seniors. The project Linda participated in covered DNA.
In 1982, Linda took a break from teaching to stay home with our newly adopted son. While Linda loved teaching (and then counseling), neither come close to how Linda felt about our son. Stepping away from teaching for a couple of years was never in question. She returned to counseling a few years later.
In 2002 Linda was honored to receive a Crystal Apple Award. The awards was established in 1995 as a way for donors to honor educators who played a significant role in their lives and who represent excellence and commitment. Linda was nominated by the very grateful parents of one of her students. A recognition, overdue and well deserved!
Linda stayed at ELHS until her retirement in 2002. I retired that year and Linda wasn't about to let me go out on my own!
Upon retirement Linda returned to her love of sewing. For Linda that meant counted cross stitch, quilting and applique. Anyone who's been in our unit will testify to the fabulous quilts that adorn the walls. To say that she was a talented quilter (and applique artist) is truly an understatement. Check out these pictures below and come see several quilts at the memorial service.
Of course making quilts wasn't enough for Linda. Putting her organizational skills to use meant being part of the Lansing Area Patchers, the Capital City Quilt Guild and a founding member of the Greater Lansing Quilt Guild. Linda not only enjoyed working with other quilters, she also invested in the groups by serving in several board positions in LAP and CCQG. But moving from Michigan didn't mean that Linda was no longer in a guild. She immediately joined the Crazy Quilters Guild in Laguna Woods, serving as it's membership chair and the newsletter editor for several years and organizing the Road to California bus trip several times as well. Linda never just joined a group, she was always committed to its success.
Sewing wasn't Linda's only interest. She and I focused on traveling and volunteering. During the next two decades we traveled to Europe 11 times covering 15 countries. Visit traveldiariesonline.com for the details. Linda didn't just sit back and enjoy the ventures. She was the one that dug into the details of each location we visited and planned where we would spend our time making sure no interesting/important sites were missed. And it didn't stop there. During the trips Linda was always the one to participate the activities which accentuated the site being visited whether it was dividing up a suckling pig with a dinner plate, riding a camel or walking across a hanging bridge in harsh wintry conditions. She never missed the full flavor of every place we visited.
On the volunteer side, both Linda and I were docents at the Michigan Historical Museum for several years. We teamed up to usher groups of school children from exhibit to exhibit. As always, Linda used her skills as a teacher to insure the children understood the importance of what they were looking at.
Linda also spent several years volunteering at Ele's Place. Ele's Place was created to support children who had experienced the death of a parent, sibling, or someone else close to them. Linda loved the opportunity to help many children through difficult times. I just wish she was holding my hand now!
Last, but by no means least, was our son's wedding in 2017. As mother of the groom she felt this was one of the most important days of her life. She loved every minute of the multi-day celebration! She glowed with pride the entire time.
Thank you for celebrating Linda's wonderful life with me!
Ron