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Phyllis Laszlo Obituary
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Memories and Condolences
for Phyllis Laszlo
September 16, 2009
Dear Ms. Rodriguez-Soto, Thank you for your lovely note.You have honored Phyllis' memory in the most memorable way- as only one of her former students could have done. You have afforded me and my family great solace and comfort and for this we are most grateful. Thank you for taking the time and making the effort to do this- Maurice Laszlo. Hollywood, Florida
Ana Rodriguez-Soto
September 13, 2009
My condolences to all of Mrs. Laszlo's family. I was one of her (English major) students at Barry (1977-1980). Fortunately for me, she was my advisor, too. I remember learning a lot in her classes but most of all loving the way she taught them - never boring, always more discussion than lecture, because as her nieces wrote here, her style was to "raise questions" rather than give answers. She helped me discover and grow to love (and understand) the works of William Faulkner but any class she taught was a great class. I especially remember going to her house one night with other members of a class to try a chocolate mousse recipe she had discovered - and made herself. I'm sure we talked about literature at some point, but that wasn't the point of the gathering, if you know what I mean - chocolate was!
Mrs. Laszlo was the kind of teacher and human being who left an impression on the lives of those she touched. I am grateful for having known her.
Andy Laszlo
August 25, 2009
Nancy,
Hi. It's been a few years, to put it mildly. Thanks so much for your kind words and thoughts. In truth, it's fortunate for all of us that Phyllis did not do her own cooking!
Levity aside, it's a very sad time; I feel it deep in my bones.
I saw your mother at the funeral service and said hello. Despite how long it's been, she looked as I recalled her. Be well and send my regards to Robert.
Warm regards,
Nancy (Danziger) Goldfarb
August 19, 2009
Dear Maurice, Michael, Andy and Karen:
I was saddened by the news of Phyllis' passing. My fond memories of her take me back to the days when we sunbathed together by our pool and talked about everything. I always thought it was cool that she had Publix Chicken ready for the family and not slaving in the kitchen. A model I follow till today.
I hope that you find the strength in the wonderful memories you have of her.
With my deepest sympathy!
Nancy (Danziger) Goldfarb
August 19, 2009
Dearest Maurice, Laszlo and Worton Families, We are so sad to learn of Phyllis' passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all at this difficult time. Phyllis was such a lovely lady and the Worton girls have expressed it so beautifully. May you find comfort in your memories.
Dr. Sheldon and Elaine Zane
Linda Jackson
August 16, 2009
The following was read by Phyllis' niece, Linda Jackson, at the funeral.
A Toast to Phyllis
Phyllis was not big on traditions and always hated funerals. She thought they were silly and said they made ordinary people into saints. And, the last thing Phyllis wanted was to be remembered as a saint. She wanted to be remembered for exactly the person she was - someone who needed a daily fix of chocolate, bought only retail, watched junk TV and always spoke her mind.
She was a true Renaissance woman. Phyllis could analyze the works of Kurt Vonnegut and Dylan Thomas like nobody else, and somehow give the same attention and analysis to the events of the Guiding Light, which she watched everyday for years. She loved a fine caviar… as long as it was followed by a large ice cream sundae. Phyllis attended the opera and theater regularly, but also had a passion for Star Trek and The Transformer movies. She was someone who loved literature, art, music, theater, and teaching in many different forms.
Mostly, Phyllis loved to be surrounded by the people she loved. And, Maurice was clearly the love of Phyllis’ life. I didn’t know them back when they first married, but I feel as if I knew them during their honeymoon, because it lasted for the next 50 years! They always held hands, laughed at each other’s jokes no matter how many times they heard them and wanted to be with one another more than with anyone else in the world.
We joked that no family event was ever complete without a toast to honor Phyllis. And, it even got to the point that we started toasting Phyllis whether she was there or not! We toasted her cooking when we all knew she had really ordered takeout, and we toasted her hospitality regardless of whether she was the host.
Although Phyllis had 3 children of her own, my sisters and I always felt like we were her daughters as well. We all talked to Phyllis regularly, met her for lunch or shopping or just hung out for long talks on the infamous green couch. We, our spouses and kids all did whatever we could to make her life easier, and for those of you who have ever tried to help Phyllis, you know that it was no easy task! Phyllis was always very independent. But, we all loved her like a mother. We laughed with her, sought her advice and support and learned from her, and we all felt our lives were better having her be a part of it. When Phyllis and I would have our long talks, I felt that I could talk to Phyllis about things I could not talk to anyone else about. She was my friend.
When Phyllis looked back on her life, she always said her life had been wonderful. She said she had no regrets, nothing she wished she had done differently. She wanted to continue to live life to the fullest and only to the fullest, as she had always done. She was a truly happy woman.
Phyllis often quoted poetry to me to express her thoughts. And, one time she quoted to me a line from one of Wallace Stevens’ poems that read “Let be be finale of seem,” and told me that that is what she believed and that that is how she viewed her passing. So, I will miss our long talks, shopping, makeovers and adventures together, and I will think of Phyllis forever. But, I will try to be as brave as Phyllis, and not to mourn her passing, because she would not want us to do so. Phyllis would want us to think only of her laugh, her smile, her sees chocolates and the fun times together.
So, let’s all raise our glasses and toast Phyllis, as we have at every other gathering! Here’s to Phyllis!
Charles Cassini
August 15, 2009
As a long time Barry faculty member I remember Phyllis well and send prayers for her and condolences to her family.
Nicole Kelly Laszlo
August 14, 2009
Grandma,
I love you, have always loved you, and will always love you.
You have taught me so much in the years, like how to tolerate having glasses, how to convince my parents to let me get rid of them, and how to make even the saddest of people smile.
Though you were older than I, you had the liveliness and energy of one of my peers. I always enjoyed going shopping with you at "Teen Angel" and Bloomie's, and visiting the book store to pick out completely frivolous books.
Thank you so much for teaching me lessons I will always remember. You will forever remain in my thoughts.
Sincere with love.
Andy Laszlo
August 14, 2009
Jamie, thanks for your condolences. I had not thought about that night at Marcella's with your mom in decades. But, I remember it vividly and can see why you do as well. Apart from the sentimental aspect of that evening, I also recall "exhaling" spaghetti (which was quite a feat). Really, thanks for thinking of us. It's been so many years. I hope you're well. Warm regards.
August 12, 2009
Dear Maurice and Family, Shirley and I just found out the sad news about Phyllis. We send our sincere condolences, she was such a lovely person. Dick & Shirley Tenzel
Peggy & Herbert Lieberman
August 11, 2009
We will truly miss this bright, sweet, interesting lovely lady with a great sense of humor and a wonderful understanding of people. She loved her family above all else. What great memories we all have. We feel very privileged to have known her.
Jamie Gerard
August 11, 2009
Doc, Mike, Andy, and Karen, I am truly sorry to hear the news about your mom. You all know how much I liked her and the fun we always had with her growing up. From the carpools from Hebrew school to the going to Marcella's with my mom. We really should get together one of these days. With my deepest sympathy. Jamie Gerard
Marcelle May
August 11, 2009
This was read at the funeral on behalf of me and my sisters, Debby Teich, Diane Amdur, and Linda Jackson.
Who is Phyllis Kandel Laszlo? A woman who made a mark and touched so many lives that will improve this world for generations and forever.
She was our aunt, but more than that, she was our friend. Even when we were young, she always insisted that we call her “Phyllis,” not Aunt Phyllis.
The Wortons and the Laszlos have always been very close. We gathered for holidays, traveled together, and were always there for each other. Phyllis was our second mother and we all adored and respected her. We confided in her, knowing that her advice was free of judgment, and she never appeared to be shocked or show signs of disapproval. She knew everybody’s secrets. She was a very special person, full of wisdom, a pillar of strength, honest, sincere, intuitive, funny, kind, brilliant, and a really good listener. She had deep thoughts.
Phyllis inspired the best in people by guiding them to look inside themselves to decide their own paths. She had a craft for raising questions rather than answering them and letting you know that believing in yourself is fundamental in order to succeed and be happy.
She was an incredible writer, grammar expert, and editor, and had a special way of bringing out the most of your ability to put thoughts together to write a paper. She helped my sisters and me with our college essays and did the same for my daughters, Carly and Elyse. I told her how much I appreciated her help and her response was, “I’ve enjoyed this time with them so much, learning about their insights and their life experiences. This gives me such pleasure.” And it’s those hours that my girls spent with her, they will never forget.
A few months ago, I asked Phyllis to help me proofread a twenty page newsletter, filled with articles that I had written. I told her how much I appreciated her taking the time to help me. Her response, “It is I who should thank you. For the past two hours I was focusing on something else besides my condition, and using a part of my brain that hasn’t been exercised in a long time. It feels good!”
Phyllis didn’t just inspire family members and friends, she also inspired her students at American High School for four years and at Barry University for twenty years, where she was the first Jewish professor and was constantly voted “favorite teacher. Renowned children’s writer Dorian Cirrone was quoted, “While attending Barry College in Miami Shores, I was influenced by my freshmen college English professor, Phyllis Laszlo, who opened my eyes to hidden meanings and symbolism in English Literature.”
There are things that will forever remind us of her. I’ll start with the food. Phyllis did not like to cook but there were a few things that she loved to eat!
Black and white cookies from Epicure were her favorites because they had a pinch of lemon, which made them stand out from other bakeries.
Lemon cake from Starbucks
Sees chocolate
Fudge, fudge, and more hot fudge
Anything at all from Kilwins
Bacon, although it was not allowed in the house
Eggplant parmesan, lemon chicken, and pizza, prepared by her daughter-in-law Elisa
And Delores’ lemon chicken and brisket
Before Karen was born, Phyllis longed for girls to take shopping for pretty frilly party dresses. The four of us were the happy recipients of lots of velvet dresses from Youngland in Surfside. For every birthday, Phyllis would bring us there and buy us something extravagant and girly. The storeowners looked forward to our birthdays as much as we did. When Karen was born, they knew that their sales would skyrocket.
When we were younger, we would visit Phyllis and she would take us outside to admire her vegetable garden and then we would take stale bread and feed the fish. When my kids were younger, they got the same treatment.
Phyllis always liked her special time with everyone. She didn’t like the big group gatherings. She would always find time to go for walks because she loved the one-on-one intimate talks. Throughout the years, there have been so many on that green couch in her livingroom. We’ve all spent hours there.
We love you Phyllis. Sleep well. We’re all much poorer here without you, but the world has been infinitely blessed and enriched by your being here. Rest peacefully, and with a smile, knowing you made this world and all of us in it better with your incredible gifts. We will continue to feel you in our hearts, hear you in our thoughts, and keep you with us forever.
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