Llois A. Stein

Beloved mother, art enthusiast, dog-lover and political activist Llois Stein (neé Alpert) of Cortez passed away peacefully September 5, 2024. She was 93 years old, and is survived by her brother Buzz (Lincolnwood, Ill.) daughter Doreé (Algoma, Wis.), son Eric (Bellingham, Wash.), and her deeply cherished, unofficially adopted son John Mark Horton (Santa Fe, N.M.). She was also the lively aunt of Andrea, Diana, and Nicholas. She was preceded in death by her husband, Melvyn, and many, many dear friends.

Asked once to describe herself, Llois said she was “bright, witty and attractive, and very politically involved.”  An unsolicited review from a friend said she was “elegant, intellectual, and spunky.” This unique and great lady was all of things, and much more.

She was born April 19, 1931, in Chicago, Illinois, to Sam and Belle Alpert. He was a self-made businessman who manufactured boys' clothing. He was so poor as a boy that he didn’t have long pants to wear when he graduated high school, but his sister bought him a pair. Her mother, Belle, who was from a Jewish family, had been married and divorced at the age of 18, “which made her damaged goods,” Llois said. However, Belle and Sam won a Charleston dance contest, which led to their getting together.

Llois became involved in politics as a teen. “When I was 16, I adored Henry A. Wallace,” she said. “I did everything I could to get him elected.” Wallace, who had served as vice president under Franklin Roosevelt for one term, was the nominee of the Progressive Party in 1948 but did not garner many votes. Llois was expelled from the Town School for Girls because she was taking friends with her to progressive party meetings. She was readmitted and received excellent grades, an accomplished writer at a young age. She joined the League of Women Voters when she was 19 and was a lifelong member, receiving an award in 2022 for 75 years of membership.

Llois herself created the unusual spelling of her first name. “When I was 18, I received a letter from the Lois Club in Philadelphia,” she once recalled. “I was appalled that there were so many Lois’s, so I added an ‘L’. College boys called me ‘Double L’.”

Llois could remember some of the major events of the 20th Century, including America’s entrance into World War II. “I came out of a movie theater and saw the headline on the Sunday Chicago Times that said, ‘Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor’.” She also could remember the great scare of Oct. 30, 1938, when Orson Welles did a radio broadcast dramatizing the H.G. Wells story “War of the Worlds,” about Martians invading Earth. People all over the country panicked, believing the story was genuine. “Father jumped up and had his coat and car keys,” Llois remembered, “but Mother said, “Sammy, it’s not true.”

Llois attended the University of Chicago, Northwestern University, and the University of Miami. She got married at 19, primarily to leave her home, as her father could be physically abusive at times. She married a gambler, and they moved to Detroit, but she disliked him as well as the city. They broke up after 14 months and she returned to Chicago, working as a saleswoman at the famous Merchandise Mart. A year after her divorce, she met Mel Stein, a young immigration attorney. The first time they kissed, Llois said she heard wedding bells – They were married 4 months later. Llois and Mel moved into an apartment in Evanston, Illinois, and soon after they welcomed their daughter, Doreé. Eight years later they had a son, Eric. In 1969, Mel and Llois made the decision to move their family to the best public schools in the Chicago suburbs. Llois found the perfect house on Whittier Lane in the Village of Northfield, where they happily raised their family. She taught her daughter about flora and fauna, and taught her son about art and how to be a handyman.

Llois was a feisty fixture in Northfield, a Jewish lady in a village with few Jews but ironically 2 synagogues. She fought to keep Willow Road from being widened to 4 lanes, even lying across the road to stop traffic while Chicago Tribune reporters looked on. Llois also played a recurring role as the fortune teller at the annual Northfield Fair and ran the “White Elephant” sale for years. While she never graduated university, Llois was a self-taught anthropologist, specializing in the Asia-Pacific, and spent almost 20 years “volunteering” at Chicago’s Field Museum of Natural History. Volunteering is in quotes because she was there at least 3 days a week. She was instrumental in the repatriation of native Māori artifacts to New Zealand in the mid 80’s. She loved “the Field” and was extremely well-respected there, with students assigned to learn and work under her tutelage.

Shortly after becoming empty nesters, Llois and Mel moved to Highwood, Illinois. Llois loved their home there and led the charge to get public access to the beach there. A few years later, Mel retired from the law, and they moved to Cortez, Colorado in 1995, where their son Eric lived at the time. Sadly, Mel’s life was taken by an intoxicated driver in 2001 at the age of 74. Llois loved quirky Cortez and stayed – and thrived. She volunteered at the Anasazi Heritage Center and Crow Canyon Archeological Center, walking her dogs among pueblo ruins and at the dog park. She made many new and dear friends in Cortez. Her home on Henry Street was landscaped impeccably and was a source of great pride. Llois ran a monthly conversation salon in her home, inviting “the brightest people in Cortez” to join her for talks on numerous topics. The salon ended shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic began. Llois’ hobbies included gardening, reading, art, and a good game of Scrabble.

All her life, Llois loved dogs and had them as companions. Her first was named Freckles, followed by a standard cockapoo Champ, standard poodles Lacey, Lilly, Coco, and Misty, and one Karelian Bear Dog, Dax (no small dogs for Llois!). Misty was adopted when Llois entered assisted living in Cortez in May 2023. Misty’s new loving new dog mom, Leigh, dutifully brough Misty to visit Llois at Madison House on almost a weekly basis which brought them both great joy.

Llois lived in Cortez for almost 30 years, but eventually health concerns required a move from the Colorado Plateau's high elevations to sea level, and in November 2023 Eric and Doreé moved her to a skilled nursing facility in Two Rivers, Wisconsin. Here, she reconnected with her daughter, while quickly charming the Hamilton Health Services staff and befriending residents with her wry smile, sharp wit, and positive attitude. She repeatedly told her children, “I am happy here!”. Mother and daughter were able to spend lots of time together, enjoying the beauty of Wisconsin’s lakeshore, countryside, and many local favorite dining establishments. Doreé often said, “Mom loves to eat!”

Llois is profoundly missed by all who knew her and will be remembered fondly. She was a unique lady, as her husband said, “They broke the mold after they made you.” In lieu of flowers, please send donations to For Pet’s Sake Humane Society in Cortez (link below) A celebration of Llois’ life will be held in Cortez and possibly another location, details to follow.