Book of Memories for Laura Helen Benua

Memorial Candle lit by Aitzi

Mon, 27 Jul 2015 06:17:13 EDT

Aitzi

Memorial Candle lit by Hagit Borer

Fri, 12 Jul 2013 11:32:28 EDT

Hagit Borer

Memorial Candle lit by Annie Arroyo

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 09:11:53 EDT

Annie Arroyo

Memorial Candle lit by Jennifer Bock Parsont

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 21:34:31 EST

Jennifer Bock Parsont

Memorial Candle lit by Lizandra Romero (Heavens grandma)

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 17:25:22 EST

Lizandra Romero (Heavens grandma)

Memorial Candle lit by Heaven Javier (one of the students she use to teach)

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 17:01:27 EST

Heaven Javier (one of the students she use to teach)

Memorial Candle lit by Heaven Javier (one of the students she use to teach)

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 16:58:47 EST

Heaven Javier (one of the students she use to teach)

Condolence From Neighbor

Mon, 04 Mar 2013 17:44:13 EST

Please be assured that whatever the pain and sorrow that comes from the loss of your dear loved one is not completely lost. God Almighty is your comforter and there nothing that he can't do. Mark 10:27 John 5:28,29 Psalms 37:10,11 Matthew 6:9,10

Memorial Candle lit by Nina Kazanina

Mon, 04 Mar 2013 11:21:32 EST

Nina Kazanina

Story shared: From Luigi

Mon, 04 Mar 2013 09:16:05 EST

As one of Laura’s former colleagues, I was saddened when she left linguistics, but this unexpected news was devastating. When she was on the faculty at UMD, College Park, we had regular exchanges with my department at Johns Hopkins. We participated in several seminar together, in which I clearly remember Laura running much of the discussion. Laura was a brilliant theoretician, but also so much more. She was a true friend, and she had the kind of practical mind that made it possible for one to exchange notes with her on power tools and home improvements. It was somewhat in that spirit, in fact, that we shared a ‘needs fixing’ attitude towards the field of Phonology. Laura was also a natural satirist of human nature and foibles. As one of her elders, I felt an occasional urge to dispense advice, and I once told her that the main challenge of getting older was to stay out of the pants, as more and more of the person tends to relocate there. Little did I know that Laura had her own theory of aging. As in other domains, her theory was superior and more perceptive. Without going into details, it was hilarious. In short, she was a real human being. We loved you, Laura.

Memorial Candle lit by David Poeppel

Sun, 03 Mar 2013 12:16:53 EST

David Poeppel

Condolence From Juan Carlos Castillo

Sat, 02 Mar 2013 18:44:48 EST

I am very sorry and sad to hear the news. I met Laura while I was a student at Maryland. I took care of her house and cats several times when she went on trips. Laura was an intelligent, caring and fun person. Some of my best memories from that time include her. It was always a pleasure to spend time with her. My thoughts go to all of her family. I will never forget Laura.

Story shared: From a UMass friend

Sat, 02 Mar 2013 17:31:11 EST

I got to know Laura when we were both students, and I was visiting UMass to sit in on classes. She was one of the smartest and funniest people I ever met. I remember her giving me a ride on the "back way" from UMass to Northampton, listening to great music in her car. I live in Northampton now, and tonight I'm going to see Frank Black play, and I'm going to be thinking a lot about Laura. Her work as a linguist continues to inspire me and many others - I still use chapters of her dissertation in the graduate courses I teach at UMass. My deepest condolences to her family.

Story shared: From a Maryland friend

Sat, 02 Mar 2013 14:17:46 EST

I remember how Laura loved gardening; in Nyack she had built a small but gorgeous garden along with a deck where she hung out a lot. I visited her regularly when my son was in college in Troy (NY) but she didn't tell much about her (quite lonely?) life, except for stories about her students whom she obviously cared a lot about, and her colleagues. I am sure she made a difference in her students' lives. She worked very hard and spent a lot of time driving back and forth to the Bronx. She hated the academic bubble and its self-centeredness, she had a much greater need to make a 'real' difference than typical academics like me. I invited her down many times but she would not revisit old haunts such as Maryland where she had been profoundly unhappy. I got to know her well shortly before she left as she was wrestling with the decision of quitting academia (we had many conversations about that and other topics, including men…); I genuinely admired her gutsiness as a woman and found her defining combination of laughing and hard-edge attitude extremely appealing and even endearing. In the last week or so I had been talking (to my husband) about contacting her to tell her that we were planning to drop by in the summer if she'd have us visit. I am terribly sad that no one will ever again hear those big laughs and off-beat remarks barely hiding that big heart of hers...

Memorial Candle lit by Susan

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 22:44:52 EST

Susan

Condolence From Beth Winson

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 20:40:32 EST

Love to Laura's friends and family. She will be missed.

Condolence From Anne Berkson

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 12:52:16 EST

Many fond memories of Laura from our trips to Larchmont and her visiting us in the UK. Sending my love and thoughts at this sad time.

Condolence From Vicky Berkson

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 12:41:08 EST

Sending love and condolences to Peggy,Billy,Dan,Sun,Sue and Rick.Have been remembering all the fun times Laura and I had together as teenage girls on both sides of the Atlantic - that Talking Heads concert in NY and our shared adoration of Elvis Costello. So saddened by her passing - will be thinking of you all on Saturday.

Condolence From Adrienne & Philip Berkson

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 09:24:03 EST

with fond memories of our trip to Larchmont and delightful New York tourist tour a vibrant personality we will miss

Memorial Candle lit by Linda Benua and Carol Benua Major

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 22:31:37 EST

Linda Benua and Carol Benua Major

Memorial Candle lit by Karen, Tony, Aaron, and Eli Luttenberger

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 16:58:47 EST

Karen, Tony, Aaron, and Eli Luttenberger

Photo shared: BENUA_2C.jpg

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 11:37:25 EST

Memorial Candle lit by Catherine Benua Hickey

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 10:17:34 EST

Catherine Benua Hickey

Memorial Candle lit by From your cousin in far away California

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 03:59:55 EST

From your cousin in far away California

Memorial Candle lit by Karen Kelly

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 01:30:51 EST

Karen Kelly

Memorial Candle lit by Frank Cox

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 18:58:56 EST

Frank Cox