Obituary of Norma Ash

Norma was the consummate U of A Men's Basketball fan and supporter. She and her husband, Raymond (Ray) Ash, cheered the 'Cats from the same seats for decades and prior to McKale, they sat in the same seats in Bear Down for decades. After Ray passed away in December 1993, Norma continued to attend almost every game, even during this past season. For years, both she and Ray travelled to the away and championship tournament games, sometimes accompanying the team. It was always easy to spot Norma at the games given her tall stature, impeccable sense of style, dramatic white hair, 1000 megawatt smile and signature Indian turquoise and silver jewelry. She watched every play with intensity & pride. Norma prominently displayed her many treasured Arizona basketballs, signed each year by the entire team. In 1994 Lute, invited Norma to become the first female member of the Rebounder's Club and take Ray's seat, a club in which he had been a member since inception. During their respective lifetimes, Norma and Ray never wavered in their generous and enthusiastic support of the Arizona athletics program. In addition to her deep involvement with her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and all of her many fun adventures with Ray, Norma had many of her own diverse interests and passions. In the mid 50's she began to study fine arts at the University of Arizona & realized that not only did it bring her joy but she actually had the ability to create. In the early 60's she visited Tahiti on a painting retreat and while researching her next destination, discovered a sleepy little town in Mexico called San Miguel Allende where she would head next. She enjoyed it so much that she returned year after year to study under James Pinto at the Instituto Allende. Starting in 1965 she would spend several months a year studying under James Pinto at the Instituto Allende. She said it was "magical to be standing at an easel with him looking over her shoulder constantly critiquing her work". Norma was always experimenting with different mediums including bronze casting & painting where her styles continually evolved from realism, to expressionism, or her own take on cubism. The common denominator of her paintings, dozens of which adorn the walls of her home, is her vibrant color palette. Her love of life jumps out from each canvas. Once Pinto retired in 1979 San Miguel, never felt the same to her and in the mid 80's she built a studio in her home and continued her creating at home. On her 43rd birthday Ray shocked her with the keys to their new home. After moving into El Encanto Estates in 1964, she would walk the neighborhood's many small streets, admiring the beautiful gardens on display. One in particular was that of Oliver and Alice Drachman where she would spend hours just studying the sight until one day, Oliver approached her and they became acquainted. It was at his suggestion that he and his right hand man Chester, help her start planting her own garden. With her eye for beauty and her artistic talent, she designed a magnificent layout of her own. For two decades, she would personally, along with her trusted sidekick Chester, plant over 2000 flowers. She proudly tended her gardens season after season until Chester passed away in the mid 80's. Norma's flower and vegetable gardens were featured in publications including Sunset Magazine, Tucson Lifestyles, and the Tucson newspapers. When her renowned gardens were ablaze with pansies, candy tuffs, petunias and poppies, cars would literally line up for blocks to slowly drive by this magnificent sight. Norma had a great sense of adventure & unbeknownst to Ray, she decided to get her pilot's license so she could to fly their small plane and co-pilot on their many trips. The day she was taking her first solo flight, Ray decided to take his plane up. As he walked into the terminal to file his flight plan he was informed that his "wife was just taxiing in on the runway." He was extremely concerned that she would take such a risk when they had 2 small children at home that depended on her. Not one to let anyone make her decisions for her, she slowly reconsidered and decided he was right. That was actually the last time she ever took an opportunity to pilot a plane on her own. She explored the world and did so, not as much to see the sights as to engage with the people and their different cultures. She participated in a "Sing Sing Festival" in Papua, New Guinea where one of the chiefs proposed that she join his tribe and become one of his many wives. Unfortunately, she had to explain that she was happily married & though the offer was tempting, it was out of the question as she could not miss any U of A Basketball Games. (lol) She also volunteered to work in an orphanage in Romania, went to Vietnam to teach English, participated in a sociological study in a village in India, and helped build a school in China. She worked as an ambassador for the United States Olympic Games in Seoul, Korea. Her love of animals took her to Virginia where she worked with the apes at "The Jane Goodall Institute" and to the Galapagos where she was able to interact with the many animals there, as they had no fear of humans. Then on to the five Southern African countries to explore the wildlife and to get a taste of the different cultures. She always claimed that her favorite trip of all was that of the Galapagos. In later years when land travel became too difficult, Norma began cruising the world with her constant travel companion, her beloved daughter, Adrienne. A first generation American, Norma was born to Lillian (Libby) and Henry Levin in Cleveland, Ohio on August 12, 1921. Libby was a Lithuanian immigrant, who, at age 18, came to America with her entire family through Ellis Island. Henry came from Kiev, Russia, also through Ellis Island with his family. When Norma was a young teenager, Henry disappeared from their lives, they divorced soon afterward and Libby was forced to become the sole support for Norma and her two brothers. She opened a small restaurant below their apartment and the children helped out after school hours until each of them graduated from Heights High, and the boys went off to serve their country. One day, while ice skating in the park, serendipitously Norma met an older gentleman, Col Robert P Mortimer. They engaged in lively conversations and she found him so nice and his stories so interesting that she decided to take him home to meet her mother. It was a match and they were soon married. At that point, Libby closed the restaurant and the 3 of them set off to Alberta, Montana, California, Dallas and back again as Robert would get new assignments. During World War II, Libby and Norma volunteered countless hours at the Cadet Academy Hospital in Dallas, where they visited with the boys and cheered them up by bringing them fresh baked cookies. Among the boys, one cadet stood out and his name was Raymond Ash. Being a Colonel's daughter, Norma was not allowed to fraternize with the cadets, but as soon as the war ended, she decided to write to Ray and see how he was doing. The letter went to his home address in New York and was forwarded on to Tucson, where he had set up a small store called County Seat Appliance Company, located at Speedway and Tucson Boulevard where Eeggee's now stands. After months of letter writing, they decided to meet in Los Angeles as that was where they were both heading to visit with family. On May 18, 1946, after just five dates, Norma and Ray were married by a Justice of the Peace in Yuma, Arizona on the way to start their life together in Tucson. There they raised their two children, Stephen and Adrienne, and transitioned the business from appliances to heating and cooling, establishing Temp-Rite Engineering, which they ran successfully for forty six years and sold in 1992. As Norma and Ray gained financial resources, Norma's sparse economic childhood inspired her to give of herself to improve the lives of others. She volunteered her time and monetary support to The Arizona Children's Home, and acted as a big sister and mentor to individual foster children and teenagers. She also supported a local program for abused women called Tucson Centers for Women and Children (Emerge) and was a major contributor to Planned Parenthood. She stood for equality for all peoples in this country long before it became a forefront issue and she said so many times, that she was thrilled to have lived long enough to witness the election of President Obama. Together, they gave generously to a multitude of causes including sponsoring mechanical engineering scholarships and supporting the athletic program at the University of Arizona. As a young woman in Dallas, Norma was hired by Neiman Marcus as a runway model and continued to do modeling throughout her life. She exercised daily, including walking with or without her doggies and working in her garden. She was as careful about her nutrition and weight as she was about her posture, which remained straight and upright throughout her entire life. She also was an entrepreneur in her own right. When first moving to Tucson, she fell in love with the jewelry of the American Indians. She became close friends with local Indian artisans both tribal and not and sold their beautiful creations to customers around the country & to Saks Fifth Avenue & I Magnums who bought their Indian jewelry exclusively through Norma for many years. She assisted her daughter, Adrienne with her salsa business and delighted in working with her at the NASFT Fancy Food Shows in New York, Atlanta, San Francisco and San Diego for 5 years until the business was sold. There she would visit with perspective customers, hand out samples and mingle with some of the other 1700 vendors from around the world. She also did food demos at markets, specialty food stores and Costco throughout Arizona & Southern California. Norma was a phenomenal woman with many varying qualities including an unrivaled sense of humor, infectious laugh, and a great sense of fun. Costumed as an outrageous witch, she greeted the trick or theater's every Halloween at her cleverly decorated home. Norma Ash lived with incomparable dignity and joy until July 31, 2014, twelve days short of her 93rd birthday. She passed away just as she wanted, at home in her bedroom, surrounded by her loving family and cuddling her two doggies, Chica & Bijou. She always proclaimed that she would "leave her home feet first" all of her size 11 AAAA (ski's) and so it was, exactly as she wished. (lol) Her beautiful, kind, generous & loving heart reached the end of its time. She greeted each day with joy, laughter and remarkable spirit. She will be deeply missed by her adoring family, doggies and many friends. Our entire family reaches out to Lupe Efaw to thank her for 28 years of love, dedication and service. Without you by Norma's side, we would have been lost. You was there when everyone needed you most, to help run the household and oversee Norma's caregivers in the final years of her life. For that, we shall always remain eternally grateful. You brought us a sense of calm during the hardest time of life. We knew that you would make sure that everything remained steady and in balance just the way Norma would have done it herself. We know that at times, it wasn't easy for you but out of your love and loyalty for her, you hung in there during the toughest times. We also know how much Norma loved and depended on you. She not only considered you a dear friend but an important part of her family! She is survived by her son Stephen, her daughter Adrienne, her daughter in law Crissy, five grandchildren; John Ash, Ricky Ash Estrella (fiancée; Lindsay Czernics) all of Tucson, Michael (Kari Jo) Ash of Hillsborough, CA, Patti (Will) Moore of Newark, CA and Marcie Prohofsky of Oakland, CA, 5 great grandchildren; Ava, Lillian and John George Ash and Stephen and Matthew Moore; sister in law Carmen Mortimer (Leonard), nieces; Leslee Mortimer and Christie (Mark) Marquez and their son Antonio, all of Newport Beach, California and nephew Mark Mortimer of Honolulu, HI. Norma is predeceased by her husband, Ray and her brothers, Alfred and Leonard Mortimer. Following are remembrances of the Ash family: Adrienne: Mom, you will always be my best friend and my hero. You taught me that there was nothing I couldn't do if I just set my sights on it and didn't give up. You taught me to live every day as if it were my last. I hope I never lose that passion. We shared so many common interests in our love of family, animals, the arts, travel, people & last but not least, the U of A Men's Basketball program. Our sense of humor & the willingness to discuss everything that was on our minds with honesty, made our bond unbreakable. You have been with me through all of the happy and sad moments of my life. I know we will meet again so saying goodbye is not a final option. However, the loss of your daily presence and the inability to pick up the phone to say "Hi" will now and for the rest of my life, be the hardest & most painful experience to accept. Now, I will rely on the wonderful memories of all the precious moments that we shared. It gives me such great comfort to know that you're once again safe and with dad, laughing at all his jokes. You were so loved and you will be part of me and in my heart forever. Stephen: Mom, I will miss and love you for the rest of my life. Crissy: You were a wonderful mother-in-law and I love you very much and will miss you. I will always remember your kind words, honesty, positive attitude, generosity, hospitality, sense of humor and love of family, pets and life. Your beauty and perfection was reflected in everything you did. Thank you for all the love you gave. May you rest in peace. Ricky: When I think of Yaya, words like beautiful, elegant, compassionate and giving come to mind. Her sense of humor would often catch me off guard for a laugh and her honesty could always be counted on. My favorite recent memories of Yaya include the opportunity to take her to a few U of A basketball games this past season, just her and I. She was able to let loose and truly enjoy the moment. It also didn't hurt that she appeared to be a celebrity in her own right, resulting in dozens of hugs, waves and handshakes that seemed to come from every direction. Lindsay and I will miss her constant encouragement, support and love and of course will never forget her laugh and appreciation of a good greeting card. Marcie: What I love most about my Yaya: She handled life on life's terms, meeting its challenges with grace. I cherish memories of bubble-baths together, brushing her hair and scratching her scalp; her pulling a prank with an unsuspecting waiter by wearing gag glasses and fake "sick" teeth. She was a stand for family reunion and togetherness and for this I am forever grateful and changed for the better. I am happy to know that our connection will be ever present as I hear her voice in my mind asking, "Honey, tell me about yourself"? Rest in peace, Yaya. I'll eat chocolate ice cream for you. Michael: I love you and will miss you greatly Yaya. Not only were you a wonderful grandmother, but a treasured friend. I will miss our many chats where you inspired me with your passion for life, "can-do" perspective and intellectual curiosity. My life will not be the same without you, but it gives me great comfort to know you are now reunited with Papoo Ray. I am proud to be your grandson and you'll never be forgotten. Patti: My sweet loving Yaya. I will always remember your love for our family, your emotional warmth, your constant generosity and your positive outlook on life. The love we shared was my safe haven, nothing else seemed to matter when we were together. What I will miss most is your touch. Yaya, life will not be the same without you. I will love you forever. The Moore Family: Norma Ash, Yai-Yai, and G-Yai-Yai…no matter by what name you knew her, she was a woman who possessed a generous, adventuresome spirit. We always were so happy to hear of her travels, inspired at her energy and curiosity. She loved to laugh and share a good story, using humor to deal with life's challenges. When you were with her, you always felt her presence was an honest, genuine one, you always knew where you stood. When Will joined her family, he felt immediately welcomed and included. As our family grew, and our sons Stephen and Matthew got to know their G-Yai-Yai, she took to them immediately. Her smile and happiness at seeing them was infectious to all around her. The kids will remember her as a very nice lady who loved them very much, and had a nice, cozy pool. Rest in peace, Yai-Yai. We love you, miss you, and wish you unforgettable, unending voyages with your loved ones in Heaven. John: My Grandmother was a sophisticated matriarch, loving and caring grandmother and a fantastic role model and friend. She had a zest for life and always advised to go for it. She was a hard worker and undertook everything with passion and an aim for perfection. With a larger than life style, she was a force till the end. Days before her passing she mentioned to me how lucky she was to have such a great family. My response was "We are lucky to have you" which in turn she said, "Well, I'm not going anywhere". I couldn't help but believe her. She was loved and will be greatly missed. Lindsay: When I think of Yaya, I immediately think of her youthful spirit and her contagious laugh. She was the type of women that everyone gravitated towards in any room. Not only because of her undeniable beauty, but because of her warm and welcoming presence, much like my own grandma, making Holidays, dinners and random visits comfortable. I will always remember those dinners together, in which everyone swapped stories and I realized just how classy and fearless Yaya was. Yaya, thank you for being such an inspiration to me and your family and always making me feel like part of it. Lupe: There are so many memories that I have of this beautiful lady but I will always remember the planting season in October. We would get the soil ready in September by adding new peat moss and manure and turning shovels of dirt and leveling it so it would be perfect for planting. It always would occur after she had a manicure and pedicure and of course never a glove to be found. The first of October we would forget the house and spend the days planting petunias, snapdragons, candy tuff, and Iceland poppies. Each row was lined up like little soldiers. In spring there was nothing that compared to the gardens. The flower pots overflowed in colors. I learned so much from her. The Leonard Mortimer Family: Norma Ash is a true 'one of a kind' Woman. She had a beautiful soul, inside and out. She selflessly brought Joy & Light to those she touched. She made those around her happy with her warm comments, was fun- loving, and dramatically stunning to behold. Her family, enchanting Gardening skill, and creative artistic talents sustained her- she never wavered. She had graceful insights and foresight one could rely on- thru thick & thin- and loved family or friends infinitely. She was a Moving Force who All were Blessed to encounter. She is missed so very much by all. Chica and Bijou: "Woof Woof Woof" which translated means "We love & Miss you"! A private family service was held. There will be a Celebration of Norma's Life in the coming months. In honor of Norma's memory the family asks that any donations be made to the: "The Norma P and Raymond S Ash Family U of A Men's Basketball Scholarship Fund" , Please make checks payable to the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona fbo "Ash Family Fund" and mail to: Community Foundation of Southern Arizona 2250 E Broadway Blvd Tucson, AZ 85719 OR call (520) 770-0800 or visit www.cfsaz.org/ashfamilyfund to make a donation via credit card.