Lenore Helene Sternberg Tishman

LENORE S. TISHMAN
Lenore Helene Sternberg Tishman died peacefully after a brief illness on Sunday, September 4, 2022, at her son’s home in Sarasota, surrounded by her five beloved children and their spouses.  She was born November 13, 1928, in Columbus, Ohio.  She lived as a young child in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and then moved with her family to Minneapolis, Minnesota.  After her father’s untimely death in 1943, her mother Ann moved Lenni, her two sisters Carole and Bobbi back to Pittsburgh, where she graduated from Taylor Allderdice High School, married, was divorced, and raised five children.  Lenni taught biology at Peabody High School before enrolling at the University of Pittsburgh, where she earned a master’s degree in social work, and became a Licensed Clinical Social Worker afterward.   She remained in Pittsburgh until moving to the then sleepy little island of Siesta Key in Sarasota, Florida in 1972.  Upon moving to Florida, she accepted a position with the Sarasota District Schools as a Psychiatric Social Worker, traveling between schools, meeting with parents, truant students and student study teams.  She remained in this position until retiring in 1995, at which point she sold her beloved A-Frame, and moved to the mainland, where she remained for the rest of her life. 
Lenni was a fiercely independent woman and if nothing else spoke to that, it was her love of travel.  Whether it was with her sister, her mother or as a solo traveler, she took several international journeys including Europe, Central America, Mexico, the Caribbean, China, and Alaska.

Her intellectual curiosity was insatiable and there was always a pile of books strewn around her home, on the coffee table, on her nightstand, in the bathroom, on the kitchen table, everywhere.  This love of reading was transformed into service when she became a reader to the blind, making regular trips to a specially designed studio at the Sarasota Opera House to record the written works, which would then be distributed to sight-limited members of the community.
She was known throughout the entire family as an excellent Scrabble player.  Amongst her children, if you could beat her, you knew you were very special.  Rather than compete with her children, she was fond of combining the scores, so it was a team effort.  While this was indeed a kind act of benevolence, there was never doubt in anyone’s mind who won.  She was able to pass the love of this game on to her children and grandchildren.

Lenore was a force to be reckoned with when it came to craftsmanship and handiwork.
She became a self-taught basket weaver, selecting, gathering, soaking, dyeing and working with the reeds to fashion the baskets that presently adorn the households of nearly every one of her descendants and friends.  They are truly works of art unto themselves.  She was present on the art show scene, each basket proudly emblazoned with the name Pzazz, Inc. on a stamped leather oval affixed by rawhide strips.

Her knitting was on par with that of any expert.  She made cable knit sweaters, hats, mittens, Afghans and more.  Each of her children was the recipient of at least one, if not more, of her amazing creations.
Mom was famous for her meticulously patterned, laid out, sewn and constructed Halloween costumes that were passed along from grandchild to grandchild.  Some of her more famous ones were Popeye, complete with overstuffed forearms, Tigger, Donald Duck and Winnie the Pooh.

She was creative beyond creative.  Her homes were always tastefully decorated, and she was quite proud of the fact that she could make any space appear classy and beautiful.
Lenore was preceded in death by her father, Arthur Ezra Sternberg ז״ל, mother, Ann Dorothy Krum ז״ל, her sister Carole Savitt  ז״ל.  She is survived by her children Ezra (Esther), Ted (Kathy), Neal (Deb), Mark (Ellen) and Jane (Brad); grandchildren Charles, Amanda, Jordan, Benjamin, Daniel, Nathaniel, Alex, Hannah, Liv, Adara, Arianna, and Samara; also twelve great-grandchildren, and a thirteenth on the way.  She is also survived by her beloved sister Roberta (Bobby) Klein, and loving nieces and nephews, Ellyn Savitt, Lori Michelson, Ed Savitt, Steve Savitt, Ken Klein, Wendy Klein, Karyn Klein, Ron Klein, Valerie Landis, Daniel Tishman and Tracy Brown. Last, and certainly not least, she is survived by her adored toy poodle, Marnie.
Funeral services and interment were held privately at Temple Beth Sholom Cemetery in Sarasota, Florida
Her eldest, and her father’s namesake, Arthur Ezra, eulogized her at her private graveside service. You can view a copy of the eulogy here.        

Contributions in her memory may be made to Leaven—a nonprofit that helps low-income, high-achieving high school students apply to, matriculate at, and graduate from highly selective colleges debt free and prepared to succeed. More information about Leaven can be found here: https://www.leavenscholars.org/.
And a five-minute video celebrating her life can be seen here: https://vimeo.com/753566251