Category: Feelings

Testimonials

Why do we say May Her Memory Be for a Blessing?

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Pamela Goldstein: Dear Mark & Marjorie, Ken & Kari, Scott & Rachael, Steve AG, Rachel, Steve B, and the whole mishpocha, My deepest condolences on the loss of Alice. I think that burying our elders (or, in Alice’s case, fulfilling her wish to donate her remains to science) is one of the hardest parts of being mortal…. The permanence of not-seeing, not-touching, not-speaking one more time is painful, sad, poignant, and in some also beautiful, in how we embrace the totality of the person who was, when their earthly journey of body has come to an end. I think often of

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Memories from a granddaughter

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My grandma Alice: On Friday morning, February 19th, the day after my 22nd birthday, my grandma Alice died of a heart attack at 87 years old. Some of my friends might remember her visiting Wellesley campus: an unassuming woman, energetic, lively, just under 5 feet tall (not including her wild white curls), equipped with plastic Ziplocs full of Black Lives Matter pins to give to me and my friends. That’s how I remember her. When I got the news, I risked a Lyft (she refused to use Uber because of the company’s questionable ethics) to Lasell Village, where she lived

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Alice

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Cynthia: Alice is an inspiration to me, another guide. Stay curious, choose compassion, savor joy- laugh a lot. I saw her apartment when she moved in. I loved the way each space reflected the personal. I’ve known her, and Bert, since my children were tiny. She always greeted the children with joy, surprise, kindness. My children and the child within the adults.

Such a Bright Spirit!

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Betsy Martin: I knew Alice from gatherings at Rachel and Steve’s. She was always so curious and intellectually engaged!  She took college courses and had the sparkle of a young person. I was impressed by her independence as an elder, and probably she was always that way, though I only knew her in her later years. She marched to her own drum and then departed peacefully. I find this very inspiring as I’m about to turn 65.

A Friend of my Heart

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Shay Youngblood: Alice indeed lived a good life. I believe I met her only once or twice. I did not know her well, but from the stories I’ve read and heard about her over the years, I felt she was a friend of my heart. Her work, professional, political and for the community will grow and blossom for many years into the future and inspire others. Peace and blessings to her family and friends. Love, Shay

It’s The Little Things That Counts In Life

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Heidi Petion:  Granma Alice was such a free spirited and positive soul. I remember meeting her through Mark and Majority, It was always good to be in her presence. I always wanted to have parents  like Marc and Marjory. I remember living with M&M there was one night Granma Alice was over and she actually allowed me to call her “Grandma Alice” I felt welcome that night cause it was a significant way for me to know that I was part of this family too. Granma Alice knew how to make others feel included, she was an amazing spirit.  Carmel

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It’ll be such an adventure…

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Ken Schafer: I wish I could believe that the essence of Alice was still out there among the stars in some new form of being, but I must confess that I am a pretty devout agnostic, and I’m fairly sure Alice was as well.   Many of you reading this may feel differently, and I envy you for it, but I can’t manage feeling anything but that our lives are ephemeral manifestations of our bodies, and when that fades, we are left with only the footprints of our lives as they crossed with others. Still, she left some pretty big footprints for

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My Third Mother

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Marjorie Salvadon:  I’m writing with the sad news of Alice Schafer’s transition. I always say that I was lucky to have had Alice, my third mother, who entered my life 22 years ago to accompany me in adulthood, always supporting me as I learned the dance of juggling teaching, parenting, writing. From the first time I met Alice, I knew she was a special person: friendly, curious, intellectually alive, and someone with strong political convictions who didn’t lean “Democrat” or “Republican” — she leaned toward justice. One example among many: in the 1960s Alice and Bert (her husband) were deeply

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