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Late in the afternoon last Friday, December 9, 2011, my mother passed away in her sleep.  My father was by her side, and it was peaceful.

The funeral was held this past Tuesday at Riverside Memorial Chapel in NYC.  Rabbi Joe Potasnik officiated.  My mother was a longtime fan of Joe and of his show on WABC Radio, "Religion On The Line."  Joe also officiated at the naming of both of my children; he and know I each other for over 30 years. 

Joe spoke of the incredible supportive and loving relationship my parents enjoyed, a 66 year long marriage.  He also spoke of how when my father discussed my mother, he would always characterize her as, "the best."  The best wife, the best Guidance Counselor, the best Chairperson, the best Supervisor in the NY State School System.

We sat Shiva at my father's apartment through yesterday.

My mother was a woman of significant accomplishment. She was also the most educated ("degreed") member of our family.  Before women in the work place was the norm, or the phrase "Working Moms" had come into the vernacular, my mother was in the work force.  My cousin Deborah, speaking at  the funeral, noted that yes, some women went to work, but my mother was a woman with a career, not something one heard of often back in the early 1960s.

My cousin Elaine was unable to attend, but she sent words of loving memory and appreciation.  Rabbi Potasnik read them at the funeral:

I am truly at a loss at how to begin to express how sad I am to lose the loving relationship I have shared with my Aunt Bobbie for so many years.

My aunt was such a special person in my life, always there to make me feel wonderful about myself.  At times when I would question myself after going through life’s traumas, as we all do, she would always make me feel like a million dollars.

I looked so forward to her visits to Florida every year and being able to spend some real time with her – I used to be amazed at how dazzling she would look all the time and I’m sure she has brought that with her even now in Heaven.

We had a very special bond with each other and the time spent with her here or on the phone are moments that I will never forget and will truly miss. When I met my husband, Barry eight years ago, she rearranged her bridge night plans so we could meet Aunt Bobbie and Uncle George at a restaurant and they so charmingly welcomed him to the family. He too is very fortunate to have known Aunt Bobbie. We are very sorry we are not there today.

We love you dearly, Aunt Bobbie, and hope you are at peace.

All our hugs & kisses, Elaine & Barry

My mother was active in Women's ORT in Delray Beach, FL.  Mom would have wanted any donations to go to ORT.

I delivered the eulogy, a copy of which follows as an attachment to this post, below.

On September 14, 2004 I posted a very long blog entry, entitled, "Apples, Honey, Caution."  It was only three years after September 11th, the wounds were still fresh, the impact of that day ever-present in the lives of many New Yorkers.  Even on this day, as the anniversary approaches, the memory and the feelings are as though it was a very recent event.

11: 55 AM Tuesday, July 20, 2010.  David Witt from General Mills speaks on How to Work with Bloggers and Influencers.  They use Consumer Engagement Networks.  This gives direct relationships with consumers.  My Blog Spark (bloggers, online), Pssst! (influential consumers, a screening panel) and My Get Together (in home get togethers).  Two of three are off line, non public.

Learn *who are your influencers* -- in the consumer segment this can be bloggers, tweeters, people who have developed a following.

11:18 AM Tuesday, July 20, 2010.  Next session here at #Supergenius: Brendan hart from National Geographic.  "How to Be Awesome on Twitter and Facebook."  The snark in me says this can't be taught.  One either knows, or has the creative juice, or doesn't.  You can't teach certain characteristics.  But let's see what Brendan has to say.

He's talking about the Media Mix, to facilitate a two way dialog. The Strategic Foundations:

10:08 AM Tuesday, July 20, 2010.  Super Genius Word of Mouth conference.  This session features Lindsay Lebresco (@lindsaylebresco), the topic: "How to Respond to Feedback, Posts, Comments and Reviews."

Be a human, do nice things for people. Lindsay works for Converseon.

Lindsay did Social Media and Community Manager at Graco.

9:36 AM Tuesday, July 20, 2010. Saul Colt (@saulcolt) from Thoora.  Live the life of your customers.  Fight for what they care about and be an advocate of their voice.

Saul was a little late getting here.  His open and his connection with the room was excellent.  Funny, and self effacing.  Getting into his slide presentation he is engaging, but his off the cuff is far superior to the powerpoint.

8:39 AM Tuesday, July 20, 2010.   Live Blogging from The Gaspedal sponsored "Word of Mouth Supergenius" conference.   The conference tag line: The "How to be Great at Word of Mouth Marketing" Conference.  Now kicking off.

Super Geniuses (aka, the panelists) will impart wisdom in creating Word of Mouth.  There is a part of me that wants to be super snarky, but I'll try to hold that in abeyance and give the panelists (braniacs?) the benefit of the doubt. 

Many years ago (the 1970's!) there was a sitcom, a big hit, featuring comedian/actor Gabe Kaplan.  He played a high school teacher in Brooklyn, with the students cast as sterotypes of the day, a remedial group, one step away from Reform School.  They were a comic bunch, a misfit or two among them, with John Travolta in what may be his earliest role of note.  The show was "Welcome Back, Kotter."

Buzzing. Waving. Googling.

On the phone with my friend and colleague Catherine Ventura the other day, after discussing the focus and path of a project, we got to talking about meetings, recent topics of conversation in our worlds, and what's hot out there in the tech & geek world.  "What's your take on Google Buzz?" Catherine asked me.  As fate would have it, except for the chat on last week's Yi-Tan call on this subject, I'd barely thought much about Buzz.  I'd tweeted about the woman who felt so totally violated by the initial release and information blast setup, retweeted  John Blossom's tweet linking to a post on it, or made a casual observation, but otherwise had just paid it little mind.  But as happens, once Catherine and I began to talk, it dawned on me what I actually thought about Buzz, and the buzz on buzz.  At Catherine's suggestion (urging?), I am blogging about it, posting it as she suggested.