Eleanor Newman Fertsch

In 1939, when Eleanor and I first entered Austin High School, we became almost immediate best friends with a common goal of becoming journalists. In our senior year we were co-editors of the school newspaper and in 1943 enrolled in summer school at UT. After the war was over, Eleanor met her true love Stanley Fertsch while playing bridge at the UT Student Center, and when they married, I was a bridesmaid. Later on, I married also and moved far

In 1939, when Eleanor and I first entered Austin High School, we became almost immediate best friends with a common goal of becoming journalists. In our senior year we were co-editors of the school newspaper and in 1943 enrolled in summer school at UT. After the war was over, Eleanor met her true love Stanley Fertsch while playing bridge at the UT Student Center, and when they married, I was a bridesmaid. Later on, I married also and moved far away from Texas for 30 years until happy circumstances enabled us to return to Austin. Though
Eleanor was very busy with her position at UT, we did find time to renew our 30 year friendship. And after she retired, we found even more time to do things together -- football of course, baseball, ladies' basketball, plus bridge, bowling, movies, and more. I loved her dearly all those years. I will always love her dearly.

She was an amazing and remarkable woman that I feel truly blessed to have known. She brought a quality of light to the world that isn't so often seen and it most certainly will be missed by everyone who truly knew her and by anyone who experienced her presence. It seemed like she always carried a bundle of cheer and joy and gave it to everyone she encountered. She knew what life was about. We will miss her warmth and abundant love.

May God provide you comfort in your time of sorrow.

Anne will miss her great email buddy who was interested in all new things and wasn't afraid of new technology. She was a delight to be in touch with daily. I shall miss her great comments and reflections on life. Her positive spirit and zest for life was an inspiration to all.

Love to the family.

Anne and Marvin Beck

lady longhorns, serranos, zilker park, san antonio zoo, la madeline, hungry hippos, tinker toys, the color kittens, the night before christmas, two jelly beans in a basket, mints, ice cream, cats, naps, word games, scrabble, poetry, grammar, spelling, mysteries, *MASH*, as time goes by, old movies on the couch, foot rubs, laughter, hugs, road trips, diet coke, balanced bank accounts, fig trees, oak trees, grilling, junior mints, timely car inspections, quick wit, quick trips to HEB...over and over...nurturance, support, cameras,

lady longhorns, serranos, zilker park, san antonio zoo, la madeline, hungry hippos, tinker toys, the color kittens, the night before christmas, two jelly beans in a basket, mints, ice cream, cats, naps, word games, scrabble, poetry, grammar, spelling, mysteries, *MASH*, as time goes by, old movies on the couch, foot rubs, laughter, hugs, road trips, diet coke, balanced bank accounts, fig trees, oak trees, grilling, junior mints, timely car inspections, quick wit, quick trips to HEB...over and over...nurturance, support, cameras, john denver, paul mccartney, old austin, the color green, long sleeves, etiquette, bluebonnets, train rides, clear nail polish, malts, ice-skating, macs, hondas, nora jones, ll bean, walks around brentwood, the wall street journal, sunday morning, VHS, 217-7568, motion detectors, don't let the cat out!

And so, so, so much more.

Eleanor: gracious, humble, thoughtful, cheerful; lovingly sharing strength and wisdom to her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Psalms 28:7 The Lord is my strength, my shield. My heart was sure of him, I have been helped and my heart exults, with my song I give him thanks.

When I met Grandmommy, what struck me was how different she was than any other Grandmother I knew. GG like most Grandmothers, was warm and loving by nature.

But, she was so much more than that: She had a great grin and truly enjoyed people. She laughed a lot. She was enthusiastic! Whether it was her social circle, her grand- or great-grandchildren, new technology, or UT sports, GG knew how to enjoy life. She EMBRACED it.

In the was she was every day, GG was a true inspiration.

We spent most all of our holidays with Grandmommy. Several years ago (pre-children), several friends of mine and Marysa's organized a softball game/party for the 4th of July. Marysa and I invited Grandmommy to come along because we always invited her everywhere and she usually accepted our invitations. The fields we planned to play at were sort of closed so we had to crawl through a hole in a fence to get to the field. It was about 105 degrees

We spent most all of our holidays with Grandmommy. Several years ago (pre-children), several friends of mine and Marysa's organized a softball game/party for the 4th of July. Marysa and I invited Grandmommy to come along because we always invited her everywhere and she usually accepted our invitations. The fields we planned to play at were sort of closed so we had to crawl through a hole in a fence to get to the field. It was about 105 degrees and we played softball and drank beer all afternoon. We asked Grandmommy several times if she wanted to go home, but she was having a blast visiting with our friends and watching us goof around and sort of play softball.

It also makes me smile to remember how most people would meet grandmommy 2-3 times and then would inevitably start calling her grandmommy. Marysa spoke so often of her and had such love for her, it just seemed natural for the rest of us to follow Marysa's lead and call her grandmommy.

I remember Judy telling me that Eleanor and Jacob had season tickets for UT baseball games (and maybe basketball). I thought....What a sporty grandmother Marysa has!!

This burnt orange candle is dedicated to the most devoted and enthusiastic Lady Longhorn basketball fan I've ever known! Eleanor, you WILL be missed and your memory will continue to bring a smile to my heart.