Eileen Bleyer

Eileen R. Bleyer, 73, passed away peacefully on Thursday, November 17, 2022 in the arms of her children at home in Brooklyn, New York. The cause was metastatic salivary gland cancer. Bleyer was born in Hempstead, New York to Ruth (Savitt) and Paul Warsett and grew up in Plainfield, New Jersey, while spending many memorable summers in Minneapolis with her mother's vast family there. She attended Boston University as an undergraduate, where she met Alan Bleyer of New York City on a blind date during their sophomore year. The two fell madly in love and were married in 1971, whereupon they enjoyed years of newlywed bliss and adventures as she earned her masters degree in special education from the University of Minnesota and worked as a special education teacher. Being a mom to her four children was her greatest joy and accomplishment. She happily provided her kids a vibrant Jewish life and established homes and communities for the family in Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, and Akron as Alan's career as a hospital administrator advanced, culminating with his term as CEO and President of Akron General Health System. After Alan's retirement in 2009, they split their time between New York and Sarasota, Florida. Her devotion as a mother was matched only by her devotion to her seven grandchildren, who she showered with boundless love, care and attention. She approached her 12-year cancer journey with courage, resilience and gratitude, saying shortly before her death, "What I want everyone to know is that I'm in good spirits!" She is predeceased by her brother, Howard Warsett, and her beloved husband Alan, who died in 2021, four days after their 50th wedding anniversary. She is survived by her children and their partners, Jennifer (Amir), Marc (Lisa), Stephanie (Chris), and Jamie (John); grandchildren Yael, Zeke, Lila, Bina, Orly, Adira and Paisley; her brother, Duane Warsett, and many cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends. A political news devotee, in her final weeks, she was relentless in securing her mail-in ballot to vote in Florida. Donations in her memory may be sent to the League of Women Voters, lwv.org.