Born in Brooklyn in 1940, she grew up in the South Bronx and Queens. Graduating from New York's esteemed High School of Music and Art (now LaGuardia), she attended Queens College before getting her Masters in Linguistics from the University of Pennsylvania and finally her PhD at the University of Chicago. She was a long time Professor of Humanities and Women's Studies at the City Colleges of Chicago and was active in the union there, with continuing affiliations with University of Chicago including the Munda Language Project. Additionally, she was a Senior Fulbright Recipient and authored/co-authored a number of respected studies including on Indus Valley script, the Munda languages (specifically Gorum and Sora) as well as a collection of Indian women's poetry titled 'In Their Own Voice'. A poet herself, she was published in multiple periodicals including Women's Review of Books, Rhino, Colorado Review, Off Our Backs, Xanadu and many others. She was an editor of Primavera, which also published her work. She spent many years living abroad in India doing research and work on tribal languages and was connected with the American Institute of Indian Studies in Delhi. She harbored a great love for the country, its people and its diversecultures. Fluent in Hindi and having spent extensive time in villages in Bihar and Orissa (now Jharkhand and Odisha) as well as time living in Delhi (including when it was still a sleepy capital). These were some of her happiest times. Some of her most cherished days were spent in the Himalayas especially in Mussoorie and at the old Raj-era railroad hotel on the beach in Puri. She was a talented cook and baker, having acquired a wide array of recipes that included family specialties and a very diverse collection of Indian dishes obtained from friends and acquaintances during her times there. Despite being Jewish, she developed a remarkable skill making a variety of Christmas cookies that were given as gifts and were always appreciated. She spent many summers in Northeastern Wisconsin, where she had been a regular resident for decades and where she found close friends and warm nights that always brought a certain comfort. Door County always remained another of her favourite places, whether she was gardening, going to a movie at the drive-in or spending time with old friends. Many others visited during the years and she even spent one year living there through the northern Midwest winter with her son Gregory. A long time resident of the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago, she leaves behind good friends and a long history of cultural involvement in the community including being a singer with Le Cantanti Di Chicago, and was a part of their performances and recordings. She loved cats, great food, classical music—especially opera, travel and books. Her dreams were many, as were accomplishments. A feminist and progressive, she was concerned about the direction of the country in recent years, which saddened and worried her. She was outspoken, determined and forgivably imperfect. She did her best and lived a life that took her further than she probably fully realized. She leaves behind, a husband, two sons, a cat, many friends and a body of work. The presence of her absence is unmistakable and will remain long after.  She will bemissed.