Saturday, September 24, 2022
I first met Eileen in 1980 when I was new to New Jersey and teaching ESL. She hired me to teach at the Rutgers Program in American Language Studies (PALS). She was an excellent administrator, educator, and mentor. She helped hundreds of students and made countless contributions to her profession.
As friends and colleagues we enjoyed numerous trips to TESOL conferences where we participated in the proceedings and had a lot of laughs during our travels.
Eileen was generous. She loved sharing her enjoyment with friends and family, most notably her Pocono home. My family and I shared many good times there, especially New Years Eves. My sons brought their wives there just to share the “Pocono experience.” Bear encounters were a special source of excitement!
Eileen loved celebrations. Friends enjoyed her holiday parties with lots of champagne and laughs, birthdays with “the girls,” and the BMG meetings were legendary!
Eileen was very caring of others, helping friends in need and sharing their joys and sorrows.
Animals held a special place in Eileen’s heart. Her dogs and cats over the years were a special source of happiness.
She was an enthusiastic sports fan. I enjoyed rooting for the Syracuse University teams with her, and other favorites throughout the years.
It was Eileen who introduced me to many shows and activities in New York City. She loved Christmas in the city and for years enjoyed performances of The Messiah at Lincoln Center. Summers had us enjoying Plays in the Park with “the girls.”
I think most of all she loved her family. Every holiday, birthday, wedding, birth, adoption were cause for great celebration. There were lots of good times in Harrisburg, the Poconos, the Jersey Shore, and Atlantic City. One of the highlights of her life was going to the Olympics in Georgia with her family. She was an avid fan of the Olympics all her life.
Until these past two years when health issues slowed her down, Eileen lived a very active , hard-working and fun-loving life. I was sad to see her quality of life diminish. While I will miss her greatly, I am thankful for her peaceful passing and freedom from pain and suffering.
Farewell dear friend. I had a great ride with you. Now may the heavenly angels take thee to thy eternal rest.
Marcia Reeves, Matthews, North Carolina 9/24/2022
