Irma Eison

1933 - 2018

Irma Ziskind Eison, of Sarasota, Florida and previously of Needham, Massachusetts died after a brief illness on August 13, 2018 at the age 85. Raised in the Catskill Mountains, her first job as a teenager was driving her fathers truck to deliver hotdogs, lox, and other delicatessen fare for the family business, Ziskind Smokehouse to the area resorts. This led to her endearing nickname, Pickles, at Monticello High School; some say because of her briny personality, others because of her delicate(ssen) aroma. Irma went on to graduate with a degree in education from Boston University where she met Irving Eison. While raising her two children, Irma was a much beloved elementary school teacher in the Needham school system. Though Irma was a very proud New Englander, she and Irv, her husband of 57 years until his death in 2011, retired to Sarasota, Florida where Irma volunteered regularly at Selby Gardens, becoming an avid orchid aficionado, and then as a docent at The Ringling Museum, one of her proudest and most enjoyable jobs, where she got to use her much-appreciated sense of humor and theatrical teaching skills on every tour she gave. In addition to her children and their spouses Drs. Michele and Robert Perchonok of Denver, Colorado, and Drs. Howard Eison and Randi Diamond of Weston, Connecticut, Irma is survived by her brother, Louis Ziskind and his wife, Linda, of Davis, California, and her grandchildren, Jennifer Perchonok of Portland, Oregon, Aaron Perchonok and his wife Gina of Austin, Texas, Drs. Kaile Eison and Anthony DeVivo of New York City, Drs. Daniel Eison and Katherine Schwartz, and Irmas 6-month-old great-grandson, Max Eison of San Francisco. Irma will be remembered at a private family memorial. In honor of her memory, enjoy a half sour pickle and maybe a kosher hotdog while thinking of Irmas wonderful sense of humor. Donations in her memory may be made to the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Sarasota, Florida.