This memorial prayer is especially befitting Diane. Starting very many years ago she advocated for  protection of the environment, against  pollution, and against  excessive construction of real estate. She had a strong spirituality based on the beauties and wonder of nature. She respected nature in her designs as a Landscape Architect and she interpreted nature in her oil paintings as a Fine Artist.

We Will Remember Her

At the rising sun and at its going down; we will remember her.
At the blowing of the wind and in the chill of winter; we will remember her.
At the opening of the buds and in the rebirth of spring; we will remember her.
At the blueness of the sky and in the warmth of summer; we will remember her.
At the rustling of the leaves and in the beauty of the autumn; we will remember her.
At the beginning of the year and when it ends; we will remember her.
When we are weary and in need of strength; we will remember her.
When we are lost and sick at heart; we will remember her.
When we have decisions that are difficult to make; we will remember her.
When we have joy we crave to share; we will remember her.
When we have achievements that are based on hers; we will remember her.
For as long as we live, she too will live, for she is now a part of us,
as we remember her.

Eulogy

Rabbi Nathaniel Ezray
Temple Beth Jacob, February 28, 2019

Diane Licht - Fruma Eta bas Naftali Gedalya v'Keila

Diane Licht was a mensch - a good, kind person, who embodied the highest ethical standards. If you were to make a list of her traits, devotion to family would be at the top. She loved to celebrate with family - birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, holidays. She would always bring her own special touch to the celebrations: a homemade greeting card, presents, roses from her garden. In describing her love, Norm wrote: "She added a richness to our long lives that is beyond description by words."

She loved her brother Ron and his wife Cathy and her niece and nephews Hana, Daniel, Andrew. She also had wonderful friendships. She was considerate and deeply aware of, and responsive to the feelings of others. She died far too young - which deepens our sadness and pain. She will be missed.

After family, the second trait we would put on the list of things which defined Diane is art. Diane was artistic in everything she did. As a landscape architect she envisioned and created beautiful and inspiring landscapes for many homes and other sites. After graduating DC Berkeley with a degree in landscape architecture, she worked for different firms and eventually opened her own practice. She was proud of her profession and skilled at what she did.

She was also a skilled artist, who painted beautiful oil paintings - mostly landscapes. Some of her paintings were displayed in galleries. Stanford bought two of her paintings to hang in one of their cancer centers, and recently one of her painted was featured as painting of the month on the Houzz website.

Her artistic essence came forth in every way - from the flowers she would arrange, the clothes she would wear, and the photographs she would take. She had an artist's eye for beauty.

Diane would have loved this week's Torah portion. It is about art and architecture in describing the building of the tabernacle - a place for people to gather and for God to dwell. In describing the tabernacle's role, the Torah says "la 'kavod u'letifaret (Ex. 28:2) for dignity and beauty." That is what art does - it inspires with beauty and in so doing, brings out deep pieces of our soul.

Diane would have loved the aesthetic dimension of Judaism reflected in the Torah's tabernacle description. Nestled amidst the details of the tabernacle, we encounter the artist Betzalel who designed and constructed the tabernacle. We learn that he was endowed with wisdom - chochmah, insight - binah, and understanding da 'at. Betzalel was brilliant - a master craftsman and architect, who envisioned and created. Betzalel was a spiritual ancestor to Diane, someone who had extraordinary talent who created beautiful art and bestowed to the world left the world beauty, spirit and inspiration.

She was born in 1955 at Mills Hospital in Millbrae when the family lived in San Mateo. When she was young there are beautiful memories of family trips to Lake Tahoe, Yosemite, Southwest National parks, Las Vegas and Seattle. She went to Israel as a teen and Beth Jacob was her Jewish home. She lived life with extraordinary integrity - she believed in honesty and hated it when she heard someone tell a lie - whether in personal life, business or politics. She cared deeply about preserving the environment and was concerned with overbuilding.

While Diane dated different men over the years, she never got married. But don't misinterpret that detail- she had beautiful relationships and deep connections.

Her enjoyment of and devotion to her parents, Norman and Carolynn, was extraordinary. You took wonderful trips together - to Mexico, Sicily, Pinecrest, Carmel; celebrating holidays and special moments together - coming here for services on the High Holidays and breaking the fast together on Yom Kippur. She was so caring and sympathetic when you had a loss in your life of a friend or family member.

She shared Norm's interest in family history, building on the geneology research is Norm's passion. Your lives revolved around each other. You loved her so much and her love for you defined her.

In recent years, Norm and Diane would communicate by email almost every day. You advised each other about many things and often edited each other's important letters or writing. Diane saw it as a sacred task to protect you as you have aged - be it a hazard in the home, driving you places.

Since Carolynn was diagnosed with cancer six months ago, she had called you both almost every day, gone to doctor appointments, hospital visits and helped with key health decisions. She accompanied you to the cancer center for chemo and tried to help Carolynn feel as comfortable as possible during the treatment. After the monthly chemo treatment she would stay at your home for several days, insisting on doing all of the cooking and housework. She became an expert on Carolynn's cancer treatment and its side affects and helped create patience and perspective in understanding things like short term memory loss and fatigue.

She put her life on hold to care for you these past months. That's what you do for family you love.

Norman and Carolynn - our hearts go out to you. This is incomprehensible and so tragically sad. No words can comfort. We will be here with love and hope that the outpouring of love can bring moments of comfort.

Diane loved her brother Ron and his wife Cathy and their children. She was happy to have attended the graduation of her nephew Daniel at Boston College. She was also proud of the graduation of her nephew Andrew from Northeastern University Boston, of her niece Hana when she graduated with a second Bachelors Degree in Nursing at Mount St. Mary’s in Los Angeles and subsequently received her RN license.

She always wanted to strengthen the ties between the members of the large extended family. She had 14 first cousins with whom she stayed in touch.

As we talk about the connection between Betzalel, the master architect and artisan and Diane, we note that Diane decorated and furnished the interiors, and designed and supervised construction of gardens for the homes she lived in, in Fairfax, San Rafael, and Sonoma. Her new house had taken some time to solve problems, and had just come together. She was looking forward to truly making it home, and we feel the pangs of sadness that she was unable to do that.

Diane had so many interests. She liked to walk, and swim, and do yoga. She took lessons in ballet and dance as a child, and she liked dancing all of her life. While she was a landscape artist professionally, she also loved caring for her own garden as a hobby. She was fan of the Grateful Dead, and more recently went to nearby performances of jazz musicians and rock bands. She found a wonderful community of friends who also loved music, art and other interests. When she posted on her Facebook page that she was ill - many responded with great concern and care, reflecting the devoted friendships she nurtured.

Diane strove to care of herself. She was careful with her diet and health practices. She was fine until suddenly she got influenza and pneumonia, and passed away after only several days. It is hard to comprehend and make sense of. She received loving care at Sonoma Valley Hospital from the doctors, nurses and all of the staff. At moments like this, the compassion of those you are dealing with makes all of the difference in the world.

The family is hoping this tragedy can be a lesson for all of us to treasure each day with loved ones, to do little things like get a flu shot and reminding others of the importance of such an act - it may save a life.

Please also make a donation in Diane's memory. The family has asked that you either donate here - Congregation Beth Jacob to the Rabbi's Discretionary Fund, to the Sarcoma-Oma Foundation created by cousin Gary Wiener in honor of his wife who died of sarcoma. The fund helps patients travel for treatment. Or choose your own favorite tzedakah and make a donation in Diane's name. Let's do something to help bring meaning beyond the tragedy of this moment.

Before concluding I want to mention Carolynn's health. You are very private people and it is uncomfortable to mention something like health, but at a moment like this, I want to remind people that you are still recovering from treatment. If people could avoid hugs, kisses and handshakes - maybe just an elbow or a nod so that we can protect you in coming days - it is important.

I want to close by again reflecting on Betzalel and spiritual aspect of art and nature as a way to see and feel, that which transcends that material world. Art in Hebrew is omanut, and it has a semantic connection to the word emunah, which mean faith. A piece of Diane was spirituality connected to nature and art. A piece of her emunah -faith, came from omanut - art; and creating and appreciating the beauty in our world. I want to celebrate that connection of spirituality/faith and art that Diane embodied by sharing this poem:

To see a world in a grain of sand
And a heaven in a wild flower,
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand,
And eternity in an hour.

Diane reminds us that faith and art intertwine. The name Betzalel means "in the shadow of God." May Diane rest in God's shadow - and may we hold onto the radiance of life and beauty that she left with us. Our prayer at this time is th 'e nishmata tzrura b'tzror ha 'chayim - may her soul be bound up in the bond of life eternal.

Internment at Eternal Home in a section with many from Norm's family.

Shiva - Here at CBJ tonight and Sunday night at 7:00

Diane Ellen Licht was born Nov.19, 1955 in San Mateo, and raised in San Carlos.

She passed away February 25,2019, due to complications from influenza and pneumonia.

She was a professional landscape architect, with a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California at Berkeley, and she held a CA license. Later she was simultaneously an artist, painted in oils, mostly landscapes. She lived successively in Fairfax, San Rafael, and Sonoma.

She is survived by her parents Norman and Carolynn Licht, her brother Ronald Licht and his wife Catherine, her nephews Daniel and Andrew Licht, and her niece Hana Licht. She is survived by 14 first cousins.

Her grandparents were the late Mayer and Sarah Licht, and Jack and Serena Pinsler.

Diane liked music, dancing, walking, swimming, yoga, photography, drawing, movies, interior design, gardening, and genealogy.

A funeral was held at Congregation Beth Jacob in Redwood City, and she was laid to rest at Eternal Home in Colma on February 28,2019, among many of her extended family.

Donations in memory of Diane may be made to the Rabbi's fund at Beth Jacob in Redwood City, the SarcomaOma Foundation, or the charity of choice.

Diane was artistic in everything that she did.  Her landscape design, her oil paintings of landscapes, the   gardens of her three homes, the interior design of her own homes, and her photography.

We went on a trip to Sicily together.  I photographed entire buildings, sights and people. She said I was a documentary photographer. She photographed differently, her photos were art:  doors, windows, ornaments on buildings, portions of sights and people.

Diane was a perfectionist at heart, and strived, but she knew she nor anybody else could not achieve perfection.

Her house in Fairfax had a deck, and she designed and had fabricated a unique metal railing with a cut-out pattern, a terraced garden with pathways, which featured rock walls, rose bushes, and long grass.  At her condominium in San Rafael she designed and maintained a beautiful garden in a small patio. At her home in Sonoma, she pruned and shaped a natural garden, using existing grape vines, fruit trees, and other trees and bushes.   

Diane graduated from Cal , then took passed the CA State Board examination for a license as a Landscape Architect. She worked for a large firm in Southern California, and helped design the landscaping for the Getty Museum when it moved from the beach to the hills. She worked for a large firm in Sausalito. Then she went to solo practice from her home. Whenever she had a new client she first did a lot of research, and then did a design for that specific site.

Diane always liked to draw pictures. Early she painted in water colors. Later she started to paint in acrylics, and then advanced to paint in oil colors. She worked very hard to perfect her technique, never satisfied, always wanted to improve and be better. She did have her professional card state “Fine Artist”.  She had several exhibits of her paintings: Sausalito, Berkeley, San Francisco. Stanford University bought two of her paintings, displayed them at their Oncology Center near junction of  highways 280 and 85. Her paintings were mostly landscapes. I think they had an impressionist aspect, not detailed,  but  rather her interpretation of nature.

Diane moved to Sonoma, because it was away from the congestion of the S.F. Bay Area. Then when her mother was treated for cancer beginning in 2018, she came to be with her for each of her six chemotherapy treatments, and stayed on a few days to do the cooking and housework, to help her and also give me a rest. Then she was unhappy each time she had to leave to go home. She told me “her mother was a gracious lady before, and during treatments”.

The year before that was a difficult one for Diane. When the house in Sonoma was bought, there was an undisclosed and hidden smoke odor, because the previous owner had smoked in the house for 40 years. Diane managed remedial repairs, which took one year, and lived there in difficult conditions during construction. Diane and I were in close communication, we worked well together. She saw places for her artistic touches, ie bathroom vanities, a sliding barn door from dining room to save space, a small washer and drier to fit into the laundry room, new light fixtures, furniture and lamps. We sued the selling broker in Small Claims Court for non disclosure, it took one year because of delaying tactics, Ron helped with the preparations and went to court with Diane, and won the case.

Diane always initiated and met her mother and me for our birthdays and wedding anniversary, to be sure we celebrated.  She liked to make her own greeting cards, with a picture and her words. When she came for a visit she liked to bring us flowers, and small gifts. 

Diane was empathetic, was considerate, thought about other people’s feelings, thought about whether she was doing the right thing. She hated lying and insincerity by people.

 As we got older, she tried harder to protect her mother and me. She worried that I was doing too much, wanted me to get helpers, warned me when she saw a potential hazard in the house or in the garden.

Diane was interested in maintaining and increasing the ties of our large extended family. She always attended the annual picnic in Palo Alto Park, of the  Maltzers, Friedmans and Calics.

Whenever Diane came to visit us she went outside to see our Asian garden. I had started the design, after studying the subject, and after Diane became a landscape architect she suggested improvements and answered my questions about plants etc.  We planted a blue spruce when it was a few feet in height, and a few years ago when it was 50 feet high she came to advise the person who was pruning it.

Diane helped Carolynn and me with our real estate investments. She went with us to see property for selection to buy, and afterwards for management The Realtor and I saw the financial aspects. Diane saw the structure, ie roof and foundation. She was especially interested in the water drainage, and the risk of dry rot damage.

Diane was conscious of diet, exercise, and medical care. She was in good health, so when she died after a one week illness, from complications of the flu, it was a complete surprise and a shock.

After she died Ron and Cathy were a great help to Carolynn and me. They went to the house in Sonoma often, so that we did not need to go there. The sale was a slow one, because of the previous two years of wild fires in the wine country. Her death was so unexpected, that it made it more complicated for them to manage the distribution of her personal belongings, buy they did it with a plan and with a great effort.  

Ron accompanied Carolynn and me for some important medical visits. Then the coronavirus struck, and Ron helped us plan the details of our new stay-at-home life, how to minimize the risk.

I sometimes had thought about Diane remembering me, and maybe making decisions thinking about what I would have wanted her to do. I never thought about her dying before Carolynn or me. Then all our planning was reversed, and when I face a decision I think about what Diane would have wanted me to do.

Mahatma Ghandi said “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever”. James Dean said “Dream as if you will live forever”, and died in an auto accident. I think “Plan as if you were to live forever. Live each day as if it will be your last.”

There is a Yiddish saying, one of many, which translated is “Man Plans and God Laughs. Our Conservative Judaic theology is that God created the laws of nature, and God is not responsible for the good things and the bad things that happen to people as result of nature. Religion has helped us to cope.

Now it is June 2020, a little more than one year after the death of Diane, and more than 120,000 people have already died from the Coronavirus. Each person who died has an individual story, and relatives and friends will mourn for them, and remember them and be inspired by them.