Rhoda Lederer

RHODA LEDERER Rhoda Ann "Deedy" Lederer, 71, passed away at Summerlin Hospital, Friday, March 4, 2011 after a long battle with a chronic lung condition. She lived a wonderful, various life and was blessed to be surrounded by all of her children; two of her grandchildren; and her second husband at death. She was born Dec. 10, 1939, in Cleveland, to a lawyer and a homemaker who moved to to Winnetka, Ill. shortly thereafter. At the age of 16, Deedy moved with her mother to Darien, Conn. She earned a bachelor's in economics Magna cum Laude from Wellesley and a masters in education from Radcliffe before settling in Concord, N.H. in 1962 with her first husband, who accepted a teaching position at St. Paul's School. Deedy taught at Concord High School for two years, but, as was expected at the time, left the profession after having her first child. To satisfy herself intellectually, she became an expert at crossword puzzles and card games, and developed a voracious reading habit - passions she passed on to her children. She also pursued regional acting, starring in productions of Charlotte's Web, Night of the Iguana, and Guys and Dolls, among others. After over 20 years of making a home for her family, Deedy moved to New York City in 1984 with a fellow actor who would become her life partner. There, she pursued acting professionally, playing at the Roundabout Theater in the Crucible, among other productions. To support her acting career, she held many interesting day jobs, including classified ads manager at The Village Voice. In 1994, she moved to Las Vegas to work with her son. In 1998, she moved to Columbus, Mont. to be near one of her daughters and four of her grandchildren; and then, in 2005, back to Las Vegas. She was a state delegate for Hillary Clinton in 2008, but, disappointed by her loss, she became a late-life independent. Deedy liked nothing better than a lively political debate with family or friends. She was preceded in death by her father, C. Craig Spangenberg; and mother, Betty Flansburg Lewis. She is survived by her first husband, Richard Lederer; her second husband, Dale Parry; brothers, Tom Spangenberg and Michael Lewis; sister, Mary Lewis; children, Howard Lederer, Annie Duke and Katy Lederer; and grandchildren, Maud, Mattias, Leo, Lucy and Nelly. She also loved animals and was preceded and is survived by too many to name. Her vivacity, humor, and candor will be sorely missed by everyone who knew her. There will be a private memorial service Monday, May 30.