Helen L. Ashkenaze (1928-2009)

ASHKENAZE

Posted By: Padriag
Date: 4/21/2009 at 16:10:27

Helen Louise Ashkenaze

Helen Louise Ashkenaze, age 80, of Long Beach, California, passed peacefully at home Tuesday, March 31, 2009, after a brief illness.

She was born on June 11, 1928, in Neola, Iowa to Frank and Ruby Floerchinger, and was the youngest of three siblings-sister Marjorie and brother Robert, both preceded her in death.

Helen was proud of her Iowa heritage but even prouder of her career accomplishments. After graduating from Iowa State Teachers College at Cedar Falls with a Bachelors of Science Degree in 1950, she moved away from the family farm and embarked on a teaching career, first teaching kindergarten for two years at Duncombe Elementary School in Fort Dodge. It was at that time she met her future husband, Sol Ashkenaze.

Helen impressed recruiters from the West Coast who came to the Midwest looking for talented teachers, and landed the opportunity to come to California after a successful telephone interview with future Superintendent of Schools of the Long Beach Unified School District, Vernon Hinze. Helen began at MacArthur Elementary, and ended up teaching over 25 years in the LBUSD, later becoming an often-requested substitute teacher after taking a hiatus from full-time teaching to raise her two sons.

Helen loved to bake, and other hobbies included playing bridge and knitting. Helen was an active volunteer in various community organizations including Community Hospital of Long Beach, and Las Hermanas, an auxiliary of Assistance League of Long Beach, where she was past President. After her retirement from teaching in 1989, Helen enjoyed traveling the world with her husband of 53 years, and when she was home, Helen enjoyed solving the Sunday crossword puzzle and most of all being a loving grandmother to her four grandchildren.

Helen is survived by husband Sol; sons, David of Laguna Niguel, Calif., and Robert of Corona, Calif.; daughters-in-law, Mary Kaye and Maricela; and grandchildren, Kerry, Joshua, Rosa Elvia, and Ruby.

Donations in lieu of flowers may be sent to the Las Hermanas Auxiliary of Assistance League of Long Beach.

Published in The Daily Nonpareil on 4/8/2009