Born Enid Devira Levien, younger daughter of Serella and Soloman "Saul" Levien on January 18, 1936, Enid Baron passed away last week in Evanston Hospital after complications from an infection. She was 86 years old. She is survived by her children, Jessica Baron and Andrew Baron, and their children, Juniper Elias Turner, and Luca Diego Baron, respectively, her niece, Emilie Rissman, and her beloved cousins Donna Bossin, and Shahna Richman. Her husband, Lewis Raisman Baron, preceded her in death in 2002.

Enid came from humble beginnings, the child of Jewish immigrants struggling to make a better life in Chicago. She embraced education and became an outstanding student, earning a degree in Spanish from the University of Chicago before marrying and starting a family. She was, in many respects, ahead of her time, finding her place in the Women's Movement, and returning to graduate school in her 40s to earn an M.A. and a PhD in Clinical Psychology from Northwestern University. She went on to serve as a college counselor at Mundelein College in Chicago and later, at Northwestern University, while maintaining a small private practice at home.

Enid took great pleasure in the Arts, literature, travel, entertaining friends, and maintaining a beautiful home that reflected the things for which she cared deeply.

She devoted years of study and practice to the craft of creative writing, working passionately at developing her voice as a writer of creative nonfiction, short stories, and poetry. She participated in writing groups, volunteered with the Poetry Center of Chicago, and took sporadic writing retreats at the Ragdale Foundation in Lake Forest to concentrate on challenging projects.

Enid cared about sharing her craft. Over the years, several of her pieces were published in literary journals. The release of her collection of original poems, Baking Days, provided her an opportunity to read her work publicly. While serving as an artist in residence with the Noyes Cultural Arts Center, she taught poetry writing to school children in and around Evanston. She also taught memoir writing classes at Evanston's Levy Center, culminating in the publication of Weaving the Threads, a collection of memoirs written by participants in her class.

In later years, Enid moved to The Mather where she made many new friends and actively participated in community endeavors including, among others, the Film Committee, on which she helped select films and facilitated discussions. She was a devoted grandmother as well as an articulate political activist, writing letters to her representatives to support issues and legislation that could advance social justice. She will be missed by all whose lives she touched with her

Intelligence, creativity, and determination.

She wished for two very different things in death, first and foremost to be cremated and the majority of her ashes placed in a grave next to her husband's. She also wished for a celebration of life and a scattering of her ashes in nature. Her graveside service will take place at Zion Gardens Cemetery on Thursday, October 27 at 11 am. All friends and family are welcome. The second ceremony will be planned for the springtime.

Enid's life was made better and extended thanks to the work of the Marfan Foundation whose research improved her quality of life and helped others in her family who share this diagnosis.

In lieu of flowers our family invites you to make a donation to:

The Marfan Foundation

22 Manhasset Ave

Port Washington, NY 11050

Or Marfan.org/donate