Obituary of Rachele Fiszman

Rachele Noto Fiszman, 93, died on June 1st in Eugene, Oregon of congestive heart failure. A graveside service will be held on Friday, June 7th at 1:00 pm at the Eugene Masonic Cemetery with a reception for family and friends to follow. Rachele was born to Salvatore and Teresa (Mazza) Noto in New York, New York on March 6, 1920. She graduated from Straubenmueler High School in 1938 and then attended City College of New York. She married Joseph Fiszman in 1951 in New York City. They lived in New York City, Atlanta and East Lansing, Michigan before settling in Eugene, Oregon in 1960. Her early working years in Eugene were spent at the Oregon Research Institute and she spent many years as an Administrative Assistant at the University of Oregon, retiring in 1993. Rachele was an active, independent and engaged person throughout her life. She especially loved to travel and had a deep appreciation of other cultures. Together with her husband and children, she lived in Czechoslovakia for one year during the mid 1960's and in the former Yugoslavia another year in the 1970's, travelling extensively throughout Europe during those times. Later, her travels extended to all seven continents, including trips to Asia and Australia with her husband, Joseph, and to South America, Africa and Antarctica after she was widowed in 2000. When she was in her 80's, she climbed Machu Picchu in Peru, went zip lining in Costa Rica, and took in the world while astride an Elephant and from a hot air balloon while in Africa. Rachele also very much loved the arts, especially the performing arts, and she was a great reader who enjoyed everything from the classics in English to contemporary literature from around the world. In her final years, Rachele enjoyed hiking and various other outdoor activities with the Obsidians and with Experience Oregon. She practiced Tai Chi until she was 89. Rachele had a wonderful warmth, grace and kindness and her positive attitude and intelligence inspired everyone who knew her. She will be remembered with great love and respect, and deeply missed. She is survived by her two daughters, Gale Fiszman of Eugene, Oregon and Sula Fiszman (Jack Bergman) of Concord Massachusetts, two grandchildren, Nora and Eva Bergman, her cousin Maria Figurski with whom she shared a special bond and many beloved nieces and nephews. The family would like to thank her many wonderful caregivers who provided comfort and support in her last years, especially Dawn and Ruth who were with her throughout. Donations in her memory may be made to the Eugene Opera or to the World Wildlife Fund.