Leonore Sloane

Lee Sloane died peacefully on November 30, 2017 at the age of 102 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Lee always introduced herself by saying "my mother was one of 15 children..." She spent much of her childhood in her grandparents' big home in Philadelphia as part of a throng of aunts, uncles and cousins. Later, she moved with her parents and her cherished sister, Audrey, to Lancaster, Pennsylvania where she graduated from high school. She earned her undergraduate degree from Goucher College in Philosophy, (honors) in 1935 and a master's degree from Columbia University in English and Comparative Literature in 1936. She also attended Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania. At summer camp in the Poconos, she was a formidable figure as head of the waterfront. A Red Cross Water Safety Examiner, she taught swimming, diving, and small boat handling. Lee married Milton Sloane, M.D. who joined the US Army as a medical officer during the time that US involvement in World War II was growing. During the war, they had lived in Southern Pines for two years (9th Division at Ft. Bragg) and Muskogee, Oklahoma (Camp Gruber, 88th Inf. Div.). Milton was called to active duty in the Medical Corps, and as a lieutenant colonel was a leader of the 313th Medical Battalion, 88th Inf. Div. through the Italian Campaign. Although he was trained as a surgeon before the war, when Milton returned to civilian life, he established a solo dermatology practice in Englewood, New Jersey, where he practiced until his death in 1969. He was director of dermatology at Bergen Pines Hospital in Paramus, N.J., and chief of the dermatology service at Englewood Hospital. In Englewood, they raised their three children, Michael, Molla, and Maggie. Lee was an active volunteer at Englewood Hospital, at the library at St. Cecilia High School, and especially at the Southeast Senior Center for Independent Living in Englewood, where she served as treasurer and taught creative writing and needlework. She also performed as one of the puppeteers with an anti-drug puppet program that toured elementary schools throughout northeastern New Jersey. In 1997, Lee moved to Chapel Hill, North Carolina, where she lived at the Carol Woods Retirement Community for 20 years. At various times at Carol Woods, she was active in the Meditation Group, Weights and other exercise classes, Folk Dance, Sewing Room, Quilting Group, the Friday Memo weekly newsletter, and the Needlework Group. She proudly stayed in her "independent living" apartment through her last year of life. Lee was an avid reader, and she enjoyed opera, museums, and the natural world. She was a master at knitting and crocheting, producing an abundant array of sweaters, hats, afghans, scarves and handmade socks for her family and friends. Lee's most treasured role, however, was that of teacher. While she never led a formal classroom, her greatest joy was in helping people learn. Lee is survived by her daughters: Molla S. Donaldson (Gerald), of Southport, NC, Maggie Sloane, of Efland, NC; her grandchildren: Gregory Sloane, of Nevada City, CA, Tama Antonia Donaldson of Danville, CA, Rebekah Elizabeth Donaldson, of Davis, CA, Jesse Sloane (Astrid Lac) of Seoul, South Korea, Kaia Jacobi, of San Francisco, CA, Jacob Sloane Speidel (Christine) of Springfield, VT; and great-grandchildren: Max Donaldson McCormick, Anna Moser, and Sam Donaldson McCormick. She was predeceased by husband, Milton B. Sloane, her infant brother, Alvin Chertcoff, her sister, Audrey Chertcoff, her son, Michael Sloane, and a grandson, Christopher Sloane. Her favorite saying was inspired by Beverly Sills: "I may not always be happy, but I can always be cheerful". Born: July 21, 1915 Place of Birth: Philadelphia, PA Death: November 30, 2017 Place of Death: Chapel Hill, NC Occupation: Teacher