Rhonda Leigh Saslawsky

1957 - 2025

It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Rhonda Leigh Saslawsky on October 26, 2025. Rhonda passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loving family and friends.

Rhonda was born on May 7, 1957, in Little Rock, Arkansas. She was raised in Memphis, Tennessee, where she attended White Station High School. Rhonda excelled academically and was admired by her peers, being voted Basketball Queen. A young woman of remarkable grace and beauty, she was crowned Junior Miss Tennessee during her high school years.

Rhonda continued her education at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where she majored in Marketing and Advertising. During her undergraduate years, she won a national competition that led her to her dream job at Leo Burnett Advertising in Chicago, Illinois, marking the beginning of a distinguished professional journey.

After beginning her career at Leo Burnett, Rhonda thrived as a media buyer and account executive, managing national campaigns. After seven years, she accepted the position of Director of Marketing for Morton Salt, a division of the Morton Thiokol Company.
When Rhonda and her husband relocated to Memphis to pursue his medical career, she joined Archer Malmo Advertising and led a national marketing campaign. She later served as Executive Assistant to the President of Kraft Food Ingredients.

After taking a brief hiatus from the corporate world to raise her children, Rhonda redirected her talents toward real estate, earning her license and luxury market certification with Keller Williams Realty. She built lasting relationships with clients who admired her integrity, professionalism, and warmth. To her clients, she was not just buying and selling houses but helping them to create a home. Rhonda continued her work there until illness required her to retire.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Rhonda was deeply committed to her community. She was an active member of the Memphis Jewish Foundation, where she served on several committees, organized major fundraising events, and was recognized as a Lion of Judah.

Rhonda and her husband participated in several missions to Israel, experiences that held deep personal meaning for her. During one of those trips, she was inspired to bring an Israeli fashion show to Memphis. With her characteristic enthusiasm, she empowered many of her friends to model in the show, helping to make it a joyful and successful event.

Rhonda also loved traveling the world with her husband, exploring new cultures and cuisines. They delighted in recreating favorite dishes from their travels, sharing them with family and friends around their table, an expression of warmth, creativity, and love for connection.

Rhonda was the beloved daughter of Dr. Maurice Petrovsky and Sandra Cook both of whom preceded her in death. She was the second of four sisters: Teri Graber (Larry), Suzanne Baum (Scott), and Laurie Smith (Sheldon). Family was always at the center of Rhonda's life.

She married her husband Mark Saslawsky on December 26, 1982, while he was completing medical school. They moved together and lived in Chicago for five years and enjoyed theatre, fashion, cuisine, and urban lifestyle. They brought their modern life and aesthetic back to Memphis where they raised their three sons, Adam Saslawsky (Emily Roberts Saslawsky), Jordan Saslawsky (Katerina Olsen Saslawsky), and Kevin Saslawsky, teaching them courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control, and indomitable spirit.

One of Rhonda's greatest wishes was to dote over her grandchildren Ellie, Michael, and Maddie Saslawsky, the cherished children of Adam and Emily, as "Lovey". Unfortunately, her illness deprived her and her family of the full experience and those precious years together.

Rhonda will be remembered for her intelligence, beauty, strength, and quiet determination. She faced every stage of life with grace and purpose, meeting challenges with courage and an unshakable sense of self. To her family and friends, she will always be remembered for her warmth, generosity, and sense of style, a woman who brought light and energy wherever she went. Her presence filled every room, and her absence leaves a space that can never be replaced. Though illness took much, it never took her spirit.

Her funeral will be held at Beth Sholom Synagogue Cemetery at 1:30pm October 27, 2025.