|
October 30, 1953 - March 31, 2016 Eva Lois Easton Leaf born October 30, 1953 in Rochester, New York and died March 31, 2016 in Santa Monica, California. Beloved and devoted daughter of Carleton J. Easton Sr. and Elvira Turri Easton (both deceased). Niece to Rochester's legendary Turri sisters, and goddaughter of Alice and Angelo Schiano, on her mother's side, she was a proud member of Rochester's extended Turri family. Those she most admired, respected and emulated in her father's family included her distinguished uncle, Judge William Easton, and his son, attorney "Billy" Easton. Eva's Roman and DAR heritage informed her world view and shaped her character, and to this day, the fact that her maternal grandmother kept an apartment inside the walls of Rome 'til the day she died, and that an Easton ancestor was a suffragette perhaps made her the fierce Roman/Italian-American that she always was. Like a sister to Erie Street's Pam and Herbie J and all of her other favorite cousins both living and deceased ("Aunt" Rita Tacci, "Cousin" Rita & Billy Valerie, and Carl Tacci.) Best friend of brother-in-law Robert and a loving sister-in-law of Richard and his family. Godmother to Andrew, Arthur, Bria, Daria, and Jennifer. Always more than just a niece or cousin to her beloved "Uncle" Vincent. Fierce advocate of the truth. Believer in "lost causes." She was champion of every fight she took on. The smartest and bravest person we all knew. She always insisted on doing the right thing for the right reason, regardless of the personal cost. Much more than "my better half," she was and will remain my moral compass. She had a laugh like no other. You knew it a mile away. And a razor sharp wit that set everybody straight. A pool of knowledge so deep and wide made her truly "an original thinker." An amazing cook, her sauce and her meals were beyond compare. In heaven, she is being welcomed by so many of her favorite family members --- her parents, her aunts and uncles and cousins. She is undoubtedly already stirring up more than her aunt's sauce. Her great hero Senator Robert F. Kennedy set her course in life: "There are those who look at things the way they are and ask why. I dream of things that never were and ask, 'why not?'" Or, if we were to slightly edit her friend and musical hero, he might have put it, "God only knows what we'll be without her." Rest in peace, pumpkin. I love you the most. David
|
Published in the Los Angeles Times from Apr. 8 to Apr. 10, 2016
|
