In Memorium

The last week and a half have been among the most difficult in my life. I've never lost a friend, and my sister-in-law was most assuredly a friend...a great one. My daughter, who came home a week ago Sunday for her first home visit, came home not to movies and shopping and fun, but to a funeral. She was a tremendous source of comfort to me, though, and watching the video her dad took of the guitar duet she wrote and performed with her guitar teacher at school was one of the highlights of her time home.

My niece, another niece, and her baby stayed with us from Monday through Wednesday, after which their parents moved over from their hotel, our daughter flew back to Vermont on Thursday, my brother and sister-in-law flew home Friday, and my mother-in-law last night.

Quite frankly I'm suffering from a huge dose of "I don't care about anyhing-itis" right now, the least of which is AAR. That's never happened before - ever - and today I forced myself to truly engage in work. Yes, I finalized nine reviews last week, but over the weekend I was ready to move on entirely. Since I realize those thoughts come from a dark place, I didn't give them much credence, but they scared me nonetheless.

I think it's fitting to end this blog entry with the two pieces that appeared in the Dallas Morning News about my great friend and true sister:

Elise Joy Galler Gold: Volunteer, advocate for schools in Plano

By JOE SIMNACHER / The Dallas Morning News
jsimnacher@dallasnews.com

For Elise Joy Galler Gold, there was no substitute for involvement.

When her first child started school, she ended her 15-year legal career to immerse herself in volunteer work to support public education.

Ms. Gold became an award-winning volunteer and advocate for parental participation.

As president of the Plano Council of PTAs, she noted that there was no substitute for hands-on participation.

"For me, I don't want my children to think it's just about writing a check," she told The Dallas Morning News in 2003 in defense of fundraising programs.

Ms. Gold, 50, died Friday of complications of colorectal cancer at her Plano home.

Services will be at 10 a.m. today at Sparkman/Hillcrest Funeral Home. She will be buried in Hillcrest Memorial Park.

Ms. Gold volunteered wherever she found a need, said her husband, Jacob Gold of Plano.

"She held all different kinds of positions and even if she didn't hold a formal position, she was just very much involved in the schools, from top to bottom," her husband said. "Everyone in the school district knows her, from the superintendent down."

Ms. Gold became a champion of "trying to put together that dynamic of the parents getting involved in their children's lives," Mr. Gold said. "And actually understanding that the parents had a role in their children's life, and it wasn't simply dropping them off at school and picking them up at school."

She was honored for her efforts by the Plano school board. In 2003, she received a Heroes for Children Award from the State Board of Education. She was twice nominated to be Collin County volunteer of the year.

Born in Wichita, Kan., Ms. Gold grew up in Hutchinson, Kan., where she graduated from high school.

Being one of the few Jewish families in Hutchinson gave Ms. Gold particular appreciation for her faith heritage, her husband said.

As an adult in North Texas, she was a member of Congregation Shearith Israel. Ms. Gold had served as president of the National Council of Jewish Women's Evening Branch.

Ms. Gold received her bachelor's degree from the University of Texas at Austin and her law degree from Southern Methodist University. She began practicing law working with an administrative law practitioner. She began to specialize in estate planning and probate. In 1992, she and her husband formed their own firm, Gold and Gold.

Ms. Gold was active in professional groups during her law career. She had been president of the Dallas Women Lawyers Association and president of the solo and small firm section of the Dallas Bar Association.

In about 1997, Ms. Gold made her transition from law to volunteer work.

Ms. Gold also loved animals, especially black ones. There was Nestle, a rescued dog; Hershey is a cat she had had for about 14 years; Fudgy was her second guinea pig – who was preceded by Keebler. "You kind of get the flavor for the names," Mr. Gold said.

In addition to her husband, survivors include a son, Taylor M. of Plano; a daughter, Haley E. of Plano; her mother, Charlotte Galler of Hutchinson, Kan.; her brother, Dr. Greg Galler of Houston; and a sister, Dana Golman of Dallas.

Memorials may be made to the National Colorectal Research Alliance; the Texas PTA; or the SPCA of Texas.

Elise Gold died on Aug. 10, 2007. Her parents prophetically gave her the middle name of Joy. She left our presence in the same manner as she arrived and lived by bringing joy to family, friends and strangers. Her smile was ever-present and shined on many people. Born on Feb. 22, 1957 in Wichita, Ks., Elise lived her early years in Hutchinson, Ks. and was graduated from Hutchinson H. S. She earned a B.A. degree in the Plan II honors program from The University of Texas at Austin. Elise earned a law degree from the S.M.U. School of Law and was a member of the State Bar of Texas. Elise was proud of her Jewish heritage and a member of Congregation Shearith Israel. She served as president of the National Council of Jewish Women, Evening Branch. Elise practiced law for fifteen years and served as president of the Dallas Women Lawyers Assn. and the Solo and Small Firm Section of the Dallas Bar Assn. Elise made a difference in the lives of her children and other children through tireless volunteer involvement in the Plano I.S.D. and PTA. From room mother to president of the Plano I.S.D. Council of PTAs, her work was honored by the Plano I.S.D. school board; by the award of lifetime memberships in the state and national PTAs; and by the presentation of the Heroes For Children Award by the Texas State Board of Education in 2003. Elise was twice nominated for Collin County Volunteer of the Year. Elise demonstrated strength, determination and dedication focused on others and enriched the lives of many. In a half century of time, Elise accomplished more than some people accomplish in twice such time. Her legacy is secure and everlasting and is firmly imprinted upon many friends, strangers and her two children, Taylor and Haley, who will continue such legacy. Taylor and Haley are sterling examples of their mother's life work. Elise's final example of her strength, determination and dedication was exhibited in her war with cancer - a silent and unfair foe. Elise engaged the cowardice enemy with her smile, never complained and never retreated in the presence of adverse odds and continuous pain. She won the daily battles to live over a period of eighteen months through the skill and effort of extraordinary physicians, nurses and technicians. She was supported in her war with a large company of friends that never left her side. They all did the work of angels. Elise loved animals. Family members included cats, dogs, guinea pigs, rabbits, bearded dragons, fish and frogs. Elise is preceded in death by her father, Ronald; her daughter, Rose; her grandparents; and aunts and uncles. She is survived in life by her husband, Jacob M. Gold, of Plano, Texas; her children, Taylor M. Gold and Haley E. Gold, of Plano, Texas; her mother, Charlotte Galler, of Hutchinson, Kansas; her brother, Greg Galler, M.D. of Houston, Texas; her sister and brother-in law, Dana and Mark Golman of Dallas, Texas; her aunt and uncle, Madeline and Herbert Hillsberg, of Bal Harbour, Florida; her mother-in-law, Emily Gold, of Corpus Christi, Texas; her sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Alice and Lewis Gold of Sterling, Virginia, Susie and Paul Gold of Houston, Texas and Laurie and Harold Gold of Dallas, Texas; her ten nieces and nephews; Hershey, Nestle, Fudgy and several un-named frogs; many friends; and many strangers who never met or knew her name. Services are scheduled for 10AM Tuesday, August 14, 2007 at Sparkman/Hillcrest Northwest Highway Chapel. Elise's life may be honored by contributions to the National Colorectal Cancer Research Alliance, the Texas PTA and the SPCA of Texas. Elise's smile will continue to shine on us forever-more.

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