Tribute to My Friend

The Bali Calendar

Tribute to My Friend -  Lorraine Rushford Gaire


Back in November when I first posted this painting I mentioned that a very dear friend had given the calendar to me and I was going to send it to her as a gift. What I did not say was my friend was losing a very long and courageous battle with cancer. She died this morning.  I write this because I feel a deep sense of loss and wish to convey what a remarkable woman she was.
Lorraine worked long and hard for improved education and developed text books to help immigrant children become bilingual within the different school systems.

She befriended me when our children were in kindergarten together and included me in her family gatherings. Being a new immigrant and missing my own family, this meant the world to me. Her family became my American Family and has stayed so through  these many, many years. Her sisters became my friends and  I saw her two daughters grow into amazing women, choose wonderful, decent men, get married  and then in turn came along the much loved grandchildren.
The family never left her during the final, difficult, few weeks. Her daughters were true angels. I am so proud of them all.

Lorraine was always supportive of my art and for my first exhibition, flew out with her sister Jane to show support and they put the first red dots on the wall! Any artist will understand the importance of that!

I named my daughter after this wonderful friend .