In Loving Memory of Gail
It is hard to know where to start… How do you describe someone so special? She was kind-hearted, generous, and funny – often without even realizing it – and a true friend to all who knew her. I don’t think Gail ever had a mean word to say about anyone or anything. If she ever felt slighted, she kept it to herself, never showing her disappointment. To me, that is what made Gail truly unique: she accepted people for who they were and what they did, rather than focusing on what they weren’t or what they lacked.
Growing up, Gail faced more challenges than most. From the age of eight, she lived with Temporal Lobe Epilepsy, a condition that continued to plague her throughout her adolescence. I know with 100% certainty that I could have been a much better sister to her, and for this, I will always feel a sense of sadness – knowing I can no longer make it up to her.
Gail needed her independence. It is impossible to keep a bright light on a dimmer, and Gail, with her free spirit, wanted no part of being dimmed. Thankfully, she found her way when she moved to Israel—the best decision she ever made. There, she truly came into her own.
She made countless friends and met you, Avi- her life partner and the person who meant everything to her. While I may be echoing thoughts shared at her funeral, these are the qualities I remember best and what I believe Gail would want to be known for. First and foremost, she was a wife and a mother; those were her greatest accomplishments. She loved her family more than life itself and would do anything and everything for any of you.
I am so grateful for all the summers she made the journey from Israel to the U.S. with the children – thank you, American Airlines! In hindsight, I don’t know how she did it, traveling all that way, usually solo while you were working, Avi. I remember her telling me how she would blow up balloons for hours just to keep the kids entertained. Those were the days before iPads and the modern tools we now use to keep kids busy (and parents sane!).
I cherish the memories of our trips to Silver Dollar City, Eureka Springs, Six Flags, and beyond, with the kids in tow. I’m fairly certain that on one of those adventures, AJ and Yonatan got “lost,” only for us to find them with a security guard, happily eating ice cream. I’m sure they planned it that way!
Then there was the summer we sent the kids to Green Family Camp in Bruceville, Texas, where 110 degrees was considered a “cool” day. I was working as the camp doctor, and you drove down with Gail, David, and the boys who were still too young to attend. Zoe hadn’t yet joined the family. When you picked us all up, the kids were so relieved to leave the un-airconditioned bunks, declaring they were never going back! Our entire group – Talia, Dana, Jodi, Dina, the boys, and the parents – all went to San Antonio. We visited the Alamo; I think the kids couldn’t have cared less, but we had so much fun just being together.
I also remember our last trip as a foursome to Asheville, North Carolina. We started in Nashville, where Gail and I had planned a full itinerary. At the Belle Meade Plantation, we saw an old slave house standing beside the grand Southern mansion. While Gail and I hung on every word of the tour guide, you and David couldn’t wait to get out of there. I guess learning about the Confederacy wasn’t exactly on your bucket list!