Elaine Stein Obituary (1926 - 2018)

Elaine Stein, (nee Krasnoff), 91, was born July 20, 1926, and passed away on March 28, 2018. A lifelong Clevelander, she moved to Columbus in 2013 to be near her daughter Laurie and son-in-law Ty and receive the care she required during her last years. Elaine was a human sparkler. She led with generosity of spirit, distinctive blue eyes, and an effervescent personality. From the time she was elected 6th grade President of Moreland School in the Shaker Heights School District, she jitterbugged her way through high school, wearing saddle shoes, bobby socks and a contagious giggle that announced her presence before she even entered any room! Elaine was an avid golfer – (once even a Cover Girl for the Solon Grantwood Golf Course Magazine) – and she completely immersed herself in the game, playing with friends and family whenever possible. She loved ice skating at the Elysium Club at Northfield Park- skating her way across the years while the infamous organ player “Gordon” played the old “standards” that composed the soundtrack of Elaine’s generation. She loved driving her favorite car – a navy blue Pontiac Catalina convertible through the rolling hills of Chagrin River Valley, golf clubs in the trunk, singing along to “Fly Me to the Moon” on the radio! Elaine was an avid reader and brought mountains of books home from the library every week. Her children acquired her love of literature and attribute their love of words to the quote: “Richer than me you could never be, for I had a mother that read to me”. Elaine’s loyalty and devotion to friends were reflected by the time she spent with “the girls” playing Canasta and Mahjong. The games were one reason to gather; but the card table itself served as the frame upon which rich and enduring tapestry of relationships was woven, resembling a fabric of spun gold; the treasured substance that is the hallmark of true friendship. This tapestry was their collective safety net and supported the “girls” through every milestone, celebration and challenge in their lives. Elaine had an irrepressible and deep capacity to love and was quick to express affection and compassion. She loved fiercely, with arms wide open. She was the quintessential loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend. She treated her daughters’ friends as if they were her own and welcomed them into her home for her famous brownies, and of course, lox, cream cheese and bagels. A note found in her nightstand by her daughter just days before her death, written in her own hand states: “Please, I am older and now know what is like to be lonely without my longtime friends. I don’t wish this on anyone I know or love. Please, please, please keep in touch with those whom you love and who love you back.” As Elaine’s dementia progressed and more words eluded her, she still wanted to choose words that defined her and her aspirations. She chose: “Calm, peaceful, thankful, grateful and gentle”. We know that Elaine is now gazing down upon us, from the other side of “Over the Rainbow”. She is finally “worry free” and able to revel in “nacchus”. (Nacchus – Yiddish – the joy you receive from your children/family) She is preceded in death by her husband, Sanford E. Stein, her parents Sydney and Rose Krasnoff, (Bloch), her sister Miriam Shuler Wolfson, and brilliant nephew, Kenneth Andrew Shuler, for whom the Instructional Media Center at Marquette University is named. She is survived by her daughter Betsey Stein Kenyon, (Don) Ft. Myers, FL, daughter, Laurie Stein Marsh, (Ty) Columbus, OH, her beloved and cherished grandson Andrew Allen Kopf, (Sarah), Salt Lake City, UT, and her best friend forever, Elaine Felman, (Stromberg). A celebration of her life will be held privately and announced at a later time. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Shaker Heights School Foundation, www.shaker.org/foundation. Donations may also be mailed to the Shaker Schools Foundation, 15600 Parkland Drive, Shaker Heights, Ohio, 44120. The family would like to thank the extraordinary staff at the Forum of Knightsbridge who not only cared for her, but cared ABOUT sassy Miss Elaine, and told us stories about her daily adventures that helped us capture the sacred moments of her last years.