Harice Maxine Wolf Leavitt

1929 - 2018

Harice Maxine Wolf Leavitt (2 August 1929 - 4 May 2018), beloved wife of the late Ronald N. Leavitt; daughter of the late Harriett Baron Wolf and the late Walter Wolf; mother of the late Kerry Lee Leavitt Lacko (Steven), Brandon H. Leavitt (Ann Quinn), Jody K. Muka (Scott), Robin L. Leavitt (Bill), Denise E. Leavitt (Bill), Jonathan D. Leavitt; proud Granny of 11 and great Granny of 10. A graduate of Hyde Park high school, Harice met her husband Ron when she modeled for his art class at the Art Institute. A resident of Lincolnwood for 66 years, Harice penned weekly columns for over 30 years for the Reporter/Journal ("Life in Lincolnwood"), Lerner Life newspapers ("Land of Lincolnwood" and "It's My Opinion") and Pioneer Press' Lincolnwood Review ("Around Lincolnwood"). She was also a guest feature writer for the Chicago Tribune. Throughout the 1950's and 1960's, Harice was active in the Lincolnwood Little Theatre, most remembered for her portrayal of Birdie in "Little Foxes' and 'The Girl' in "The Seven Year Itch." She cherished her memory of meeting Danny Thomas at the Chez Paris; wishing she could have donated a million dollars to St. Jude. She was an early member of Le Leche League and in later years knitted dozens of hats and blankets for premature infants and oncology patients (with Project Linus) as well as for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Harice was an avid baker of bread and cookies, sharing as gifts each week up until her final months. Harice was honored many times for her lifetime achievements, which included being "Miss Polaroid (1958); Lincolnwood Mother of the Year (1959); the Award for Outstanding Service to the Intergenerational Field (with husband Ron, 1989); and the Cook County Sheriff's Senior Medal of Honor Award for Volunteerism (1997). Mayor Madeline Grant proclaimed Harice Lincolnwood Senior Volunteer of the Year (1997) and Volunteer Grandparent (with husband Ron), for service to local schools; for her participation in Chicago's International Visitors' Center welcoming hundreds from around the world into her home, her fostering of feral, stray, and abandoned kittens with C.A.R.E.; her participation in Lincolnwood Library's "Books to Go" delivering books to shut-ins and in St. Francis Hospital's bereavement programs by offering support to grieving parents, children, and spouses; her participation in the Women's Health Initiative, a 12-year national study of women's health; and her "Around Lincolnwood" column. Harice was also recognized by the Lincolnwood Library for "Consummate Advocacy" (1999). Memorial Celebration of Life arrangements are pending. Friends may honor Harice's life with donations to Community Animal Rescue Effort (Skokie) and Friends of the Lincolnwood Library.