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Tricia M. Luxenburg, teacher and convert to Judaism, was 32
Written by Mitchel Luxenburg
Tricia M. Luxenburg (née Sorg), died May 22, at the age of 32. Professionally, she is described by Tom Schmida, president of the Cleveland Heights Teachers Union as "a superb teacher: creative, vibrant, fully invested in her work, and totally committed to the children in her charge." Personally, she is described as a wonderful wife and mother; Someone with the most beautiful, welcoming smile; the type of person you’ve known your whole life, even if you just met her.
Beginning her career with the Lakewood schools, Mrs. Luxenburg joined the Cleveland Heights-University Heights school system in 2003. With the unique ability, and more importantly a heartfelt desire to reach out to children and their families, she was particularly qualified for and enjoyed working with all children and continually searched for ways to reach and help students who were "at-risk" academically, mentally and financially.
One of her many achievements was her involvement with the program FAST, Family And Schools Together, taking a holistic approach to working with children and their families to form better relationships with the school, community and each other. Her positive spirit had a strong impact on all parents, not only encouraging to, but showing them how to more actively participate in their children's schooling. Her smile was infectious, her warmth contagious, her love unconditional. Mr. Luxenburg told of one second grader who, his family unable to take him because of work, asked his neighbor to drive him to school. It was explained to him that it was ok if sometimes things happened and he can’t make it to school, he responded, "No, I have to get to school to see Mrs. Luxenburg." She worked until she was forced to stop because she had to get to school to see the kids, too.
She was instrumental in the formation of "Young Ladies of Noble". Along with two other teachers, they would teach etiquette and community service along with their academic focus. Hired in as a third-grade teacher, because of her love for her students, she agreed to "roll" with the class to meet the staffing needs of the school. Never one to stray from a challenge, she again "rolled" to become a fifth grade teacher and then taught second grade.
At her first diagnosis of breast cancer, she was five months pregnant with her fourth child. She learned on the same day of her diagnosis that it would be a girl. She began chemotherapy while pregnant, delivering a healthy baby girl in June, 2005. In October, 2005 Tricia learned that the disease had spread. Immediately, the community and her friends began a fundraising program, most notably a small child who brought in his cracked piggy bank and all his saved coins. Her school Principal and the CH-UH Superintendant put together a Union-backed proposal that would allow teachers to donate their sick days to individuals in Tricia’s position. Even prior to the school board’s adoption of the resolution, teachers from throughout the district overwhelmingly donated their days. The bank remains in place today for others to draw upon.
A Catholic when the couple married in 2000, Tricia had always contemplated a conversion to Judaism as each of her children were converted and she was raising them Jewish. When suddenly facing her fast-detiorating health at age 32, in December, 2005, she was praying and looking for an answer when the phone rang. "It was Rabbi Sukol" said her husband. She immediately decided to convert. He explained that normally there is an observation period to ensure thay the convert will live the Jewish principals. Since Tricia was clearly already ‘living as a Jew’, he was confident that additional waiting was unnecessary. The conversion was to take place the same day Tricia was, as it happened, admitted to the hospital. With her family at her side, Rabbi Sukol performed the conversion to Judaism. She was given the Hebrew name "Chai-a" (meaning "life") which is indicative of her spirit, warmth and soul.
Mrs. Luxenburg was a graduate of Bay Village High School, and earned her bachelor's degree from Kent State University and her master's degree from Baldwin-Wallace College. She was a member of Bethaynu.
She is survived by her husband of six years Mitchel; daughters Miranda Taylor (4 yrs.) and Lauren Ashley (1 yr.); sons Maxwell Tyler (5 yrs.) and Ethan Alexander (2 yrs.); parents Jim & Denise, brothers James of Houston, Texas, Jeff of Columbus, Ohio, and John Sorg. In her honor and in hopes of allowing her to continue teaching others, as she does for everyone she has met, her family has created a scholarship fund to be given to individuals studying to become teachers. Contributions may be sent to Tricia Luxenburg Memorial Scholarship c/o Charter One Bank, 28789 Chagrin Blvd OH B581, Woodmere, Ohio 44122.
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In The News
Race for the Cure: Remembering Tricia
WKYC-TV
Monica Robins, Health Anchor
10/9/2006
> Play video
> Read article
Beachwood Buzz
April, 2007
> Download PDF
Cleveland Jewish News September 22, 2006
Many of you have already had the opportunity to read the beautiful obituary published in the Cleveland Jewish News. What most of you have not seen, is the obituary Mitch wrote for Tricia that was used as the basis for the CJN. I hope you will read. |
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