Rita Nagusky

December 27, 1923 - December 9, 2015

RITA F. NAGUSKY, (nee Federman), age 91, died on December 9th. Rita is survived by her children David (Helen) of Orange Village, Louise Loewenstein (Dr. John) of Brookline MA, Carolyn of Salida, CO, Beth of University Heights, and Debby (Greg Glassman) of Seattle, WA and her grandchildren Jill Epstein (Dr. Michael) of Cape Elizabeth, ME, Karen Calo (John Morgan) of Mayfield Heights, Peter (Kelly) Nagusky of Shaker Heights, Josh (Maria) Loewenstein of Belmont, MA, Jeffrey (Jacki) Loewenstein of Champaign-Urbana, IL & Nathan and Seth Freed Wessler of NYC, and her thirteen great-grandchildren. Sister of Alfred and of Pauline Grodin, both deceased. She loved her family and friends, and the dozens of dogs, horses, and cats she considered a part of that family. Rita was ahead of her time, as an organic gardener in the 1960s and one of the movers and shakers behind starting recycling in Moreland Hills in the 1990s. She rode horses at Fieldstone Farm until a month before her passing. She loved the outdoors and nature, and travel to distant lands with her close friend Janet Carll. Rita had a rich and varied volunteer life that included teaching inner city youth to knit and cook, delivering meals on wheels, planting and tending the garden at Temple Israel Ner Tamid, providing family planning services to young women, and, in her late 80s, tutoring elementary schools kids. Her friends and family will miss her strong character, dry sense of humor, creativity, cleverness, and love of life. In her last days, she continued to express her appreciation and love of her family and friends, and for her life, which she considered to be rich and well-lived. Memorial service to be held 2 PM Sunday, December 13 at Temple Israel ner Tamid, 1732 Lander Road, Mayfield Heights 44124. Family will receive friends following the service at the temple and from 2-4 and 7-9 PM Monday at the home of David and Helen Nagusky, 3855-1 Lander Rd. 44022. Friends who wish may contribute to Geauga Humane Society Rescue Village or the charity of your choice.