ANITA MELEY LAING

LAING, ANITA MELEY Feb. 4, 1942 to May 31, 2012 Anita Meley Laing was born on February 4, 1942, in Youngstown, Ohio, to Anthony and Grace Meley. From a young age, Anita excelled at school and took a special liking to science. She graduated in 1959 from St. Vincent's High School in Akron and left home to study at Ohio University. She became her family's first college graduate when she earned her bachelor's degree in zoology in 1963. Anita continued her studies at the University of Tennessee, where she earned a Master's in radiation biology in 1967. That same year, she married Bill Laing, a doctoral candidate at the University of Cincinnati, and the two moved to Pittsburgh, Penn., where Anita taught at a community college and had their three daughters, Laura, Lisa and Rachel. Anita's success as a negotiator for the teachers' union spurred her interest in a law career. In 1978, she graduated from the University of Pittsburgh Law School. She was passionate about defending the rights of the underdog and worked on cases involving toxic pollution, employment discrimination and business fraud. Career opportunities brought her to San Diego in 1984, but Anita always maintained strong connections with her friends and family back east over the decades. The Laing family home was often filled with visitors from near and far, including several foreign exchange students who kept in contact with the family for many years. As one family friend put it: "If you brushed arms with Anita, you were her friend for life." She was well known for her generous hospitality and great cooking; guests always left the Laing house with a full belly and a warm heart. In addition to cooking, Anita was interested in film, art and travel. She took community college classes on art history and film, and she and Bill made several trips to see the great museums of Europe. Anita died the morning of May 31 after a brief illness. Her last days were spent surrounded by family and friends, many of whom traveled across the country to be with her. She is survived by her husband, Bill, with whom she would have celebrated 45 years of marriage this August; her sister, Laura Meley, and brother, Joe Meley; her three daughters and sons-in-law David Smith, Roberto Fey and Greg Block; her six beloved grandchildren, Rachela Fey, Anita Smith, Ben Block, Georgia Block, Kim Smith and Sara Smith; and Kim and Sara's six children. Anita's funeral mass will be at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, June 6, at St. Charles Borromeo in Point Loma. She will be buried next to her mother and father in a cemetery in Akron.