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LUCIA LERMOND Obituary

LERMOND--Lucia, of New York City, died on February 15. Her brilliant mind and gracious spirit will be sorely missed. A Queens College graduate, Lucia earned a Ph.D. from Columbia University. Her dissertation, "The Form of Man: Human Essence in Spinoza's Ethic," was published in 1997. Lucia returned to Queens College to teach philosophy, religion, and feminist theory. Her enthusiasms-for rembetika music, Minoan civilization, champagne-were wonderfully intense, as was her passion for favorite places. Lucia is survived by her sister, Jessica M. Lermond; her uncle Leonard M. Schwartz; her longtime friend Rodica Diaconescu-Blumenfeld; and a circle of intimate friends. Donations may be made to the American Friends Service Committee, at afsc.org.

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Published by New York Times on Feb. 23, 2014.

Memories and Condolences
for LUCIA LERMOND

Sponsored by Comrades in Teaching, THHS/QC Seminar.

46 Entries

Jackie Gianico

February 17, 2025

I only met Lucia briefly in Italy when she accompanied a small group of Vassar students with our dear professor, Guzzi. 20+ years later I still remember her energy and spirit. She and Guzzi waited patiently at the fonte gaia in Siena for one of our scavenger hunt posts.

I'm so sorry to find out this news. I only found out after googling Guzzi as a I have a Romanian student currently who brought back memories...

Gutsie Blumenfeld

February 22, 2023

Thank you all, each and everyone of you. It seems no time has passed.
- one life one death one thought one face

(I will I attach a picture of Vassar Lake where Eugenio and I burnt incense and scattered her ashes, once I figure out how.)

Arthur Shippee

February 17, 2023

Still a presence in my life & thought; I can hear her voice.

Thanks, Lucia, for so much.

Gutsie Blumenfeld

February 22, 2020

Cindy Legorreta

June 18, 2019

I did not realize that dear Lucia has made her transition...I clearly remember LL as an outspoken, vibrant eccentric teen, who loved to sing the blues (creating as she sang, her own set of music notes!), at YWCA Quannacut Camp, oh so...many decades ago. We were all eating corn around the campfire, and a bug lit on the corncob, then bit her lip. I chuckled, which was dumb. I hope she forgave me. I spotted and, recognized her at a distance... some years ago, stepping onto a subway train. Lucia's face was the sort you might see only once - but then, you never forgot it. At camp I recall her hair was the palest, flaxen blonde. Like spun white-gold silk. She was, even then (probably 14, if that), one of a kind. A being like no other. Semi-magical? Indeed...Hope you are enjoying that dimension that knows no time.....bless you sweet Lucia.

January 1, 2019

For Lucia!

2013

gutsie blumenfeld

December 30, 2018

gutsie blumenfeld

December 30, 2018

1
á
Spring 2014

I promised to make you a fire,
to carry its warmth
into love in our haptic house

I promised you a hearth

but you din not, no hearth for you
you loved the fire in its fury instead

and just at the end
fire became ice
occult motionless absence
unnameable

back to your chthonic outpost
fury

Linda Robertson

February 8, 2016

Correction to my recent entry - I was a student of Lucia's in 1992-3, not 2002-3.

Linda Robertson

February 8, 2016

I am so late in finding this. For some reason I was thinking of Lucia today and decided to google and find out where she might be; of course having no idea that she had passed. I was a student of hers in Women's Studies in 2002-3 at Queens College. She is the most brilliant professor I have ever had and made me want to learn so much. She talked so fast, and thought so deeply. I used to joke with her that I had to hold my head while listening to her lectures to keep my head from exploding. She introduced me to so many wonderful insights, theories and understandings, I have always been so grateful to have taken 2 of her classes. So glad I told her so at the time. She was patient and kind with a part-time working adult procrastinating student. The world is less for her absence.

August 6, 2015

Lucia, I didn't know. Love you always, Marilyn.

Debbi Kempton-Smith

August 5, 2015

Lucia, Even at eight years old, you were a ray of light, an opener of doors, a beautiful, subversive rebel and a gifted teacher. Thank you for your genius, grace and generosity.

Love and Light Always, friend

Jon Mulv

November 18, 2014

I will always remember Lucia as my favorite Philosophy professor of all time. I will never think of caves, Plato or syllabii in the same way again. RIP.

Christopher Spooner

September 3, 2014

Great teacher. Great soul. I just stumbled across this news and it saddens me.

Jeff Helmreich

July 3, 2014

I learned so much from her, in such a short time, far too long ago. My memory of her is a distant but blazing star that still guides my thoughts and brightens my sense of intellectual and personal possibilities. I so wish I'd stayed in touch.

Jean Weiner

March 27, 2014

Did Lucia attend Washington Irving High School? If so, I believe my mother, who also lived in Penn South, was one of her social studies teachers. I do think I remember my mother speaking of her. My mother died several years ago, but I know she would have been thrilled to know about all Lucia's accomplishments and the kind of person she was.
My condolences to her family and all who were close to her.

Arthur Shippee

March 26, 2014

Dear friends and colleagues;

As many of you know, in honor of our friend, Lucia Lermond, a generous seed gift was given by Evelyn Burg to establish a prize in the Queens College Philosophy Department, and other donations are welcome and are now being collected.

"The Lucia Lermond Memorial Award will be given annually to a graduating Philosophy major who has a special interest in ancient cultures, history, and philosophy, who has completed all the requirements of the Philosophy major, and who has been recommended by a faculty member in Philosophy to the Departmental Honors and Awards Committee." The prize amount has been set at $100. Since the funds will be kept in the QC Foundation accounts, accruing interest, our donations along with others should be able to assure that the prize lasts for many years. These gifts are fully tax-deductible.

I hope you will help fund this special and fitting memorial of Lucia's work and influence.

Checks should be made out to Queens College Foundation (QC Foundation is fine), and the name of the award should go in the memo space - Lucia Lermond Memorial Award - and also the Project Number - 38001.

They can be sent to:
Maureen Kennedy
Development Office & Fundraising -- Kiely 104
Queens College
65-30 Kissena Blvd, Flushing, NY 11367.

Diane Menna

March 25, 2014

Dearest Colleague Lucia,
You will always be a guiding light of peace, kindness and gentile commitment to justice and equality for all whose lives you touched. Those of us who marched with you shoulder to shoulder for the rights of adjuncts and the working class will surely miss you.

Alina Klepper

March 18, 2014

Lucia=Lux=Luce=Licht=Lumina=Lumiere!

Jessica Polish

March 17, 2014

Everything Lucia said was dear to me. One of the most dear things she said to me was that she didn't know anything except the following three things, that it is necessary to be kind, to be honest, and to be generous. I've been thinking of that a lot.

I have always had a special place in my heart for her. And I have kept her in my thoughts each day for years.

I don't think I would have ever felt comfortable in philosophy if it weren't for her showing me, in my first ever philosophy class and before that too at my high school, how a philosopher can be. She read my writing with such care over the years and awakened me to the beauty and pain harbored in texts. And in life.

I notice I've been obsessed with Plato more than usual in the last month. I think it's because I can hear Lucia discussing Plato, especially the Symposium. I try to talk to her in my head.

She seemed to me a person who could feel everything, who was in touch. Lucia was also obviously a genius, and as a student 10 years ago I was always puzzled by the fact that such a gifted person didn't have the opportunity to teach more.

Lucia would take me out to beautiful Italian restaurants in Manhattan each time I was in town, after I moved (also before I moved), or else make me a wonderful meal at her home. This was very generous. I always had an indescribably lovely time with her. I'd come out into the day or the night feeling such hope and happiness and magic, because of my connection with her.

We'd exchange gifts of clay or wooden little animals, and books about all kinds of odd creatures.

I can't explain the connection I felt with Lucia. She changed/changes me, my life. She affected/affects me deeply, and I think I am still in shock. I don't think I can imagine returning to NYC and not seeing her, not having her call me up.

The last time we met was in November, and we took the train (the F train) part of the way back together. I remember how proud I was to be with her, and how happy. I will always remember her, always.

This photo of Lucia dates from about 1980, when she was a student at Columbia..

Ava Chamberlain

March 17, 2014

al Cimitero Ebraico di Ferrara (tomba di Giorgio Bassani), 2014

rodica blumenfeld

March 5, 2014

Dacia M

March 4, 2014

Cara Lucia
Non so dove sei, ma voglio pensare che tu continui a camminare in un luogo più sereno e piacevole di quello in cui noi viviamo. Mi ha molto colpito il modo in cui hai voluto andartene: salendo in terrazza, all'aria aperta, cercando le stelle, sebbene il gelo ti bruciasse la faccia e le mani.
Ti prego di continuare a guardarci con la tenerezza che sapevi rivolgere verso gli altri, amici o nemici che fossero. Abbiamo bisogno del tuo sguardo amico.
Con molto affetto e stima, Dacia M.

Lucia Lermond-Dacia Maraini-Gutsie Blumenfeld, at Vassar College

rodica blumenfeld

March 4, 2014

Le Mura di Ferrara, 2012

rodica blumenfeld

March 3, 2014

Ayia Pelayia 2013

rodica blumenfeld

March 3, 2014

Judy BIener

March 3, 2014

I learned so much more from Lucia than I can say. I will miss her deeply.

Arthur Shippee

March 1, 2014

Good news: this guest book will now be permanently on-line, thanks to some Townsend Harris / Queens College humanities seminar colleagues. If you know of others who may like to add a remembrance, please draw this to their attention.

Roberta

February 28, 2014

Quante belle serate passate insieme a te e a Guzzi a parlare di Bassani e a sorseggiare Veuve Clicquot. Ti ho nel mio cuore. Ciao Lucia.

Thea of Myrtos, Early Minoan (2500 BCE)

rodica blumenfeld

February 28, 2014

View from Hotel Akti, Xerokambos (Crete), 2012

rodica blumenfeld

February 28, 2014

Harriette Blechman

February 26, 2014

Lucia was simply one of the best. I taught several Townsend Harris seminars with her and felt very honored to know her. I shall miss her presence on this earth.

Jill Schneiderman

February 25, 2014

In January I spent a beautiful day with Lucia at the Jewish cemetery in Ferrara. We admired the old mosaics, the names of those who had passed, and discussed the book The Garden of the Finzi Continis. We had a beautiful meal afterwards and such good conversation. I will cherish those memories. I am so sorry about her passing. She was a beautiful and gentle person.

Luigi & Valentina Masotti

February 25, 2014

We had the sad news of the death of Lucia from Rodica, and we feel dismay and helplessness.
Not more than a month ago we had a trip to Pomposa, an Abbey close to Ferrara, and we felt the joy of Lucia of being with us. Lucia was a special person, with great sensitivity and gentleness, and a lot of love. We will regret for a long time her departure.
We were honored of being her friends. I was happy that he was okay in the apartment in Ferrara of my Daughter Gloria, that she loved very much.
We I regret not having spent more time, and not having done more things together.

Luigi and Valentina

Hina Ashraf

February 24, 2014

I cannot express in words the shock and loss of losing my dear professor and friend. Her selflessness and passion were unparallel. Despite of the fact that I come from a very religious Muslim family our friendship transcends over our unique beliefs about religion. She helped me in improving my writing skills and later help my son too. I must say that she is one of a kind and her beautiful memories will always stay in my heart.

Gutsie and Lucia in McGiffert Hall, Union Seminary, in about 1980.

James Waller

February 24, 2014

near Monteriggioni

rodica blumenfeld

February 24, 2014

Dearest Lucia,

May the beauty and brilliance with which you graced our lives be bestowed on you a thousandfold, and may you finally realize that fond and long ago dream of flight.

Love,
Helen

Debra Michlewitz

February 24, 2014

Lucia and I team taught together in the Townsend Harris HS Humanities Seminar from 1990 to 2010 and I learned so much. She inspired the program's goals; she inspired her colleagues; she changed the lives of students who glimpsed something of a great scholarly mind. Experiencing literature and ideas with her made the classroom a magical place. She motivated us all to think more deeply and to imagine everything that the words on a page could convey. Always, one of the best possible afternoons was spending it in her company, with good food, wonderful conversation, and special wine.

Dearest Lucia, I will miss you! Thank you for sharing important things with me.

February 24, 2014

I will always remember your kindness and generosity...as we all walk together toward the light.

Eugenio

Joseph Merino

February 24, 2014

Lucia, I'm sure you and Marvin are sharing a glass (or more) of wine on the other side.

February 24, 2014

Cara Lucia,
è stato un onore conoscerti e un privilegio poter conversare con te. Che belle le giornate passate insieme a Siena, Venezia
Ci manchi e ci mancherai
Franca Maria

Olga Pignatelli

February 24, 2014

La cara Lucia mi mancherà immensamente. Conserverò per sempre il bellissimo ricordo che ho di lei e dei momenti felici passati insieme in Italia.
Olga Pignatelli (Bologna, Italia)

gutsie blumenfeld

February 23, 2014

Ellen Stern

February 23, 2014

Dear Jessica,
Sorry to learn of your sister's death. My deep sympathy to you and your family at this sad time.
Ellen (Freemond)

Arthur Shippee

February 23, 2014

Dear Lucia, what a wonderful colleague you were! Fellow QC Presidential Teaching Award winner, you and I taught many hundreds of THHS seniors. I hope to do well for your Philosophy of Religion class this term. I have a richer view of the world through knowing you, thank you -- and thanks for the champagne on my ordination!

Fondly, Arthur

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