Stories about Rose
Virtually every0ne who met Rose has a "Rose Story."
Please share your stories here
(And let us know if you have a photo to share.
We'll arrange to get that via email.)
Read some of the Stories
From:
Linda Louie
I also knew Rose through her presence at the annual Chanukah party. I will always remember her as "young at heart" in the sense that she could dish out the wry humor just as well and as quickly as us snarky twentysomethings. Where many mature adults might observe our conversations in silent consternation, Rose had no hesitation in joining in, no matter how sarcastic or weird the topic, and she always had something clever and hilarious to say. I also loved the additions she would shout out during Hildy's Chanukah welcome. She always made this Chanukah newbie feel relaxed and at home. It's easy to see where her daughter and granddaughter get their ability to create community around them by bringing everyone into their charismatic orbit of fun.
From:
Ray Ranghelli
Mrs. G was there when I graduated elementary school. Mrs G was there when I counted each long teenage year. Mrs. G was there when I ran away from home and sent me back home. Mrs. G was there when I graduated high school. Mrs. G was there when I graduated college. Mrs G was there when I got my first apartment. Mrs. G was there when I got my 1st full time job Mrs. G was there when I came out and said Thank God! Mrs G was there when I moved to NYC. Mrs. G was there when I moved to Florida and visited. Mrs. G was there with a birthday card Every Year! Mrs. G was there with a holiday card Every Year! Mrs. G sees me crying while I write this. Mrs. G loved me as much as I loved her.
From:
Jean Glassberg
Rose always had a wonderful sense of humor and a story to tell along with her advice. We always discussed cooking for the Jewish holidays and sharing food stories. Whenever I saw her at Udall walking track we always had to stop and visit. A few weeks before she died she said she had something for me and brought me a Chanukah dreidle. It is very special, knowing that it was from her and wonderful to have a reminder of her always.
From:
Kate Brittain
I had only met Rose once before as I came to Chanukah celebrations one year. I wasn't even sure I could remember her face, so I was all prepared to make secondary introductions when I was presented to her again. Remembered or not, family or not, Grandma Rose folded me into a hug without any prompting and swept easily into a request for some more vodka. She was a singular woman and I greatly looked forward to seeing her every year to mark the beginning of my holiday season.
From:
Susan and Bob Shrager
Walking around the Udall track we became friends with Rose. Rose our friend and confidant, had sparkling eyes, and a shining smile that welcomed everyone. And for her family and friends, she made one feel specially loved and appreciated by her own uniqueness. Rose possessed the finest of virtures, including trust and loyality. Her intentions were always sincere; and her love unconditional. Filled with generosity and kindness, Rose was always caring and giving. From the depth of her inner spirit, our friend could lighten the darkest moods in the most effortless fashion. Her compassion graced each one who came her way. She would hug with a touch of warmth and love. She had a sharp mind, always finding a new way, a new solution, even in the bleakest of circumstances. Rose stood true to herself in determination, attitude. courage, commitment and convection. Our friend was one remarkable woman. We truly treasure all that Rose shared with us--of her person, her heart, her life, her love and her laugh. She has left wonderful memories that we all will carry for ever. When someone you love becomes a memory, the memory becomes a treasure... Rose Gottlieb our friend...is a treasure.
From:
Mark Patterson
I think everyone who knew Rose has a Rose story. I first met Rose while walking around the indoor track at Udall about three years ago. One morning while walking with Rose, a man of her age by the name of Ken caught up with us. Rose asked him how far he was going to walk today. He smiled at her and said "I would follow those legs for a mile", and then he passed us. This tickled Rose and she said "You know, my husband always told me I had good-looking legs.” She looked at me, then indicated with her eyes glancing down and behind her, and said, “Mark, take a look! What do you think?” "No Rose." “Come on Mark!” “Not happening Rose.” “My husband always said I had good looking legs.” “Rose, you have two positive opinions. That's enough! We don’t want your head any bigger than it already is or you won’t get out the door.” Some time later I had not seen her for several weeks. When she showed up I asked what happened and if she was okay? She said that while walking one morning, Ken, the guy in the first story, came up behind her and accidentally stepped on her heel. This caused her to trip and she fell down hard. She looked at me and said "This floor may be made of rubber but it is not very soft you know. I've got black and blue marks all up and down my leg and thigh and butt." I asked her if she wanted to show me her bruises. Emphatically - "No I don't!" I was visiting with her at Handmakers a couple weeks before she passed. We had a nice visit, considering she was losing her voice. At one point she looked at me, waved her arm in the air and declared, "Mark, if I go next month, or next week, I have had a good ride. A real good ride!" What an inspiration Rose was. She kept her spirits high and her sense of humor under all conditions, right up to the end from what I have heard. I am lucky to have known her.
From:
Dimitri Petropolis
Years ago when we had just purchased our company, Rose was our first receptionist. She blended right in with the dozen or so much younger staff. But unbeknown to us was that she had become the undercover mom of the office. Always joking, I remember that she would quietly come to us and ask if reading Cosmo and doing her nails was part of the secretary's job description.
From:
Randi Kemper
I met Rose when she joined Old Pueblo Knitters. She was a joy to be around and contributed so much to the guild. Even though I have not seen her for years as I have been traveling I will not forget her helpfulness and friendship. She always had a smile and was willing to help anyone. She was so proud of her family and shared their accomplishments.
From:
Donna Engelbert
Rose was an inspiration to all of us who walked with her at the Udall Center indoor track. She always had a big smile on her face. We talked about her son in New Jersey because that is where I am originally from. She gave me a great cookie recipe made with ricotta cheese. I will always cherish her sweetness and remember her as an inspiration of sweeping kindness!
From:
Nora Lester Murad
Hildy has been a phenomenal resource for my community development work in Palestine, and over that time, I heard about her family and came to love them from afar. But I was stunned when our NGO, Dalia Association, got a contribution from Rose Gottleib. Could that be Hildy's mother? Not only had Hildy talked about us to her mom (feeling so honored), but Rose had looked us up, reached out, gave support. She was part of the Dalia family, and we will miss her
From:
Steward LaCasce
Bob and I came to know Rose over the past ten or twelve years at the Morris Udall Center, where we all used the walking track. Even now, as I round the turn at the far end of the track, I expect to see Rose standing near the stairs fumbling with her cassette player so that she could listen to a recorded book during those few times when she was not walking with someone or holding court.
Our greeting became a silent ritual. From the far end of the track, I'd throw her a huge stage kiss. She'd signal, “Where's Bob?” I'd point over my shoulder and mimic with my hand, “Talking with someone else.” She'd shrug: “Should have known.” It was when she held court just off the track that her stories and sayings tumbled out.
One of my favorites was about her being a volunteer “patient,” aged 85 or so, at the medical school, so that doctors-in-training could learn to diagnose her “symptoms.” One struggling student, working from a list of possibilities, asked if she was taking contraceptive medications. After we all stopped laughing, Rose added, “And they will become your doctors!”
She and Bob loved to play at insulting each other. Their quips were spontaneous—you had to be there. Toward the end when she was having so much trouble speaking, Bob might have said (and I'm making this example up), “Speak up if you have something important to say.” She'd say, “Clean out your ears if you want to learn something.” The last time we saw her, she was having a hard time pronouncing the word “liquid.” Bob offered a couple of possibilities, but when he didn't guess right, she simply slugged him—a silent insult.
Rose and I usually talked about politics (dreadful); old-people topics such as doctors (What do they know?); and, of course, food. (When will Bob bring me a large piece of carrot cake? Answer: a few weeks before she died.) She was also interested in our travel plans. (Where are you going? When is that? Send me an e-mail.) My favorite expression of hers—one that was always expressed with a shrug of resignation—was, “So whadda you gonna do?” Or, sometimes, “So what the Hell are you gonna do?”
Toward the end of her life, most of our “talk” was by e-mail, each expressing the hope that we'd see each other tomorrow or next week. In one of her last e-mails, she quoted an old Jewish saying, “Man plans, and God laughs.” So whadda you gonna do?
From:
Nancy Lewis
Rose was the most wonderful person at Udall. She always inquired about your health,your life etc. She remembered if the day before you complained about your life, she always remembered and asked,"How are you today?" She never complained. Always interested in the other person. I just loved her. I feel terribly sad about her passing. She was a wonderful part of Udall's walking track. We at Udall are very saddened. She is a person whom you wish you could be like. I miss her very much.
From:
Judy Dinniman
My husband and I met Rose many years ago through SAGE, now OLLI. She was always smiling and happy and always ready with a hug. Rose liked to call my husband her "boyfriend" and attended many of his classes. She swore that he was the only person she would make potato latkes for -- and they were delicious! We will miss her and her positive outlook.
From:
Jessica
My best Grandma Rose memories are from the infamous family Chanukah parties. When her friends and family all gathered in one place she practically glowed with happiness. She would make the rounds, glass in hand, and catch up with those of us she hadn't seen since the previous year. Rose was always interested in hearing all about my life, but no matter what we talked about she always had the perfect story to go with it because she knew so many people! She was always up to something, going to a new class, helping people out, and befriending strangers. Her ability to stay connected to the world around her was refreshing and inspiring. I look forward to celebrating her memory for years to come with latkes and potholders. She will be missed.