Born Iris Ruth Rifkin to Joseph and Dora Rifkin in New York City, Iris was a uniquely spirited and independent woman who marched to her own beat. As her family likes to say, after Iris was born, they “broke the mold”.
After graduating from Brooklyn College cum laude, she attended both the State University of New York at Buffalo and the University of Chicago to continue her studies in Political Science.
Iris had an impressive career through her working years. She opened the first woman-owned employment agency in upstate New York. In her thirties, she transitioned to a career in finance, working as a stockbroker at Merrill Lynch at a time when few women were hired to this position. This was followed by stints at Dean Witter and Paine Weber.
In her forties, Iris fulfilled her life’s dream of becoming a lawyer by attending Georgia State University Law School. She became an advocate for foster children and abused women while working at the State Attorney General’s office in Chicago.
Iris enjoyed traveling and had a passion for the arts. She and her sister were introduced to acting, dance and theatre by their mother at an early age and this led to a life-long love of attending Broadway theatre and dance productions, and performing in amateur productions when she retired. She also was a dog lover, and had several dogs over her many years.
Iris and her husband of 53 years, Daniel Spedale, built a family together raising children Rebecca and Darren.
She is survived by her husband Daniel, her children Darren Spedale and Rebecca Spedale Dushman (Charles), a sister Adele Rifkin, and grandchildren Rory, Bradley, Ashley and Brittany Dushman.
A graveside service for Iris will be held Friday, May 6, 2022 at 9:00 AM.
Iris will be laid to rest in Sunland Memorial Park Cemetery, 15826 Del Webb Blvd, Sun City, AZ.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.sunlandmemorial.com for the Spedale family.
