For those of us whose time at Frost Valley overlapped with 1975 or postdated that year, we remember Eva Gottscho personally, one way or another. She was (with Halbe Brown and Ira Greifer) one of the three driving forces behind the creation of our dialysis program (for children with renal failure), and it was, to be sure, Eva's idea in the first place.Now Eva has died at 96 years old.
Above & at right: Eva Gottscho, Halbe Brown, and Ira Greifer are shown cutting the ribbon at the dedication of the then-new dialysis center at Frost Valley in 1975. (At the far right is Dr. Bill Primack.)
Those who predate Eva's involvement with Frost Valley are surely not surprised to know (before this, I'm sure) that Wawayanda/Frost Valley was the one camp that took a chance at mainstreaming these children, whose medical needs scared off a lot of other camps before Eva found us and partnered with us.
Eva was stalwart and always sure that we were doing the right thing - even though she also never ever forgot the sadness associated with the illness and early death of her own daughter, Ruth Carole - after whom our dialysis center is named: The Ruth Carole Gottscho Kidney Dialysis Center at Frost Valley.
Funeral services are Friday (6/19/09) at Menorah Chapels at Millburn, 2950 Vauxhall Road, Vauxhall, NJ 07088 (908) 964-1500 (family will begin to receive friends at 10:45 am). The family will sit shiva at Eva's home, 7 West Beechcroft Road, Short Hills, NJ 07078, on Monday June 22 from 2 PM to 9 PM.
You can be SURE that Eva's family will greatly appreciate your cards and notes, sent to the Beechcroft Road address given just above. Please tell the family how much the dialysis program at Frost Valley means to you and to us, even if you yourself didn't know Eva personally.
You can listen to Eva's FV Hall of Fame acceptance speech by going
here.
You can read a summary of Eva's final summer visit to the dialysis unit last summer here.
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Stuart Kaufer
A little later, Stuart Kaufer (who was the coordinator of our dialysis unit for some years) wrote this remembrance:
"Besides Al’s messages I came home tonight to a message from Eva’s daughter Judy who told me that her mom had been ill for past several weeks, was pretty unaware of what was going on and that Judy was with Eva when she died. Much will be said about Eva in the next days and many of us will have our own memories. Besides her toughness and ability to conduct business, . . . Eva had a huge heart and soul. Her life was immeasurably changed when she was able to start the dialysis program at FV. It helped her preserve her daughter’s memory but, it also had a huge impact on Eva. We made such a big production of her visits each summer, special lunches, tributes, letters from the kids…but her most important moments at camp were when she was just talking to the kids on dialysis. I often thought she was amazed she made it possible, that Ruth’s dream of going to camp came true for so many kids each summer. When some of the kids wanted to stay for another 2-4 weeks Eva never said no. She simply said, send the bill.... A force of nature for sure but a soft touch and a tender heart. For that more than anything, she will be sorely missed."- - -
Rick & Phyllis Kaskel
Rick & Phyllis Kaskel sent us this statement: "It is with great fondness and appreciation that we remember Eva Gottscho in her passing. She was a visionary who shared her dreams for a camp that children and families challenged with chronic condition could one day enjoy the beauty and freedom of place such as Frost Valley. Through her efforts well over 1500 such children experienced life-long confidence building and encouragement fostered by the Frost Valley YMCA Ruth Carole Gottscho Chidlren's Dialysis Unit. Her heart was and remains in all that we are today and will only enable us to Build Strong as we continue with her dreams." (Rick is the Medical Director of Frost Valley's Summer Kidney Camp Program.)- - -
Jerry Huncosky
And Jerry Huncosky, Frost Valley's CEO, has written this:
This morning we lost a great friend and true advocate for children with kidney disease.
We all know the history of Ruth and Eva, but many did not know Eva and the wonderful life she lived giving back to the community and especially the children. Besides the millions she has spent on our dialysis program she has donated millions to Rutgers as well as supporting transportation costs for any dialysis patient who could not afford it.
Eva was a warrior when it came to providing for children. She never hesitated to pick up the phone and use her influence to help anybody in need.
Eva and I spoke nearly monthly for the past six years and visited each other several times a year. She always had a hug and kiss for me and always told me she loved me. During our last conversation, she called to talk about life. We talked about our families about God and about the beauty of life. I felt during that conversation it would be our last and I was right. She became ill shortly after.
I will miss Eva terribly as will Frost Valley. Mostly I will regret that so many children in coming years will not feel her powerful hugs and be warmed by her beautiful smile.Heaven gained a wonderful person today. I imagine she is there now clinging to Ruth the way she would cling to all of her Frost Valley children.
God Bless you Eva and thank you.
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Peter Swain
I am so saddened to hear of Eva’s death. I felt many things about Eva over my years: at times she acted like my mother, at times a peer in camping, at times a shrewd business women. But she was always a humanitarian wanting to help kids with kidney failure.
When I was at FV, all of the remarkable efforts to help kids seemed practically routine. Now that I have left for other camping pastures, I realize with great clarity that the courageous giants that made it all happen were truly remarkable and unique, and Eva was one of this group.
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Lee Fleischer
I was sad to hear about Eva's passing, but grateful that I had the opportunity to finally meet her last fall at the dedication of the Wellness Center. I am glad that she had the opportunity to see the new dialysis center, and share her still very sharp wit with those of us there. In a public sense it was a lot like Philly's Hall of Fame broadcaster Harry Kalas getting to see and broadcast on the radio the Phillies world series win (in 1980 local radio broadcasts weren't allowed) 6 months prior to his death this spring. On a personal level, though, it is much deeper for me. As a 16 year-old L.I.T. in the summer of '75, I was fascinated by the 'new' dialysis unit at camp, and for the next five summers found my passion for a career in medicine as I had the opportunity to see first hand the impact of the science and art of healing, transforming lives in a very profound way in the wonderful setting that is Frost Valley. I will never forget the day, when as a counselor in Forest Village, we got the call that a matching kidney was found for one of my campers. It is not a stretch to say that I may not have had a stethoscope dangling around my neck a few hours ago today, had it not been for the vision and persistence of Eva Gottscho 34 years ago. I am very grateful that I had the opportunity to tell her that, and give her my thanks a few moments before the ribbon-cutting ceremony last September. (Above: Lee and Eva chat during the September 2008 dedication of the new dialysis center.)- - -
Obituary published in the Newark Star Ledger.
