She was not famous, didn't travel in the political world, she had no patents for inventions, nor did she move in artistic or musical circles.
Her name was Phyllis Levine Ruffo.
Phyllis was born on January 27, 1947 in the Bronx to Rhoda and Harry Levine. She was a dedicated daughter to each of them and a loving sister to her beloved brother Richard.
She was a devoted mother to her children, son Jason, daughter Hara and husband Tom and lovingly took great pride in their accomplished lives. Most importantly, was her pivotal role as "Grandma" to Lyla, her ultimate reason for living. She was a "cool "aunt to her nieces and nephews as well as a great friend to those in her inner circle.
She was fearless, a risk taker who loved a good time and a good laugh. She enjoyed travel anywhere and everywhere and would pack her bags on a moments notice. She liked meeting new and interesting people, roller coasters, tequila, fishing and the ocean.
She was kind, generous and accepting. She loved life, fought her battles bravely with humor and wasn’t ready to leave those she loved.
As a parent, she had an open-door policy at her home to the many friends her two children were lucky to have. Some said that when they would “run away from home, Phyllis would lovingly accept them at her house and welcome them with open arms”. She might also call their parents to quietly let them know their children were safe but feed them frozen food from the basement, either way. Phyllis and Sue taught so many that it’s ok to accept all people for who they are, as long as they were loving and kind. She opened the minds of many… Young and old, during a time that not all were open or accepting. Her love, kindness, honesty and freedom to be who she wanted to and needed to be at the time, resonated with and taught others that the “norm” wasn’t always what it was cracked up to be. Phyllis was innovative and a true individual. She had no filter… Many of us wish we had less of a filter and Phyllis pushed it to every limit but those lucky enough to see her, were able to see a different perspective of a “parent” figure. She showed so many, young and old that it was ok to just be who you are. Good, bad, ugly or other… As long as you were kind, which Phyllis certainly was!
She considered Hara and Jason’s friends as family and so many of them feel the same way about her. Phyllis touched the lives of so many people not just during the pivotal ages of growing up but through their adult lives. Hara wanted to make it very clear that even though Jason was her favorite child, Hara was truly the favorite, in her own mind.
Phyllis leaves a large footprint for those who really knew and loved her. She will be sorely missed and long remembered. She left her mark and made a difference simply because she lived.
Phyliss' Brother, Richard, Children, Hara and Jason, Granddaughter, Lyla, Friends, Nancy and her boys, Michael and Paul, Joan, Terri, Kathy, Carol, Janet, Gale, Anne, Sue, Lorraine and Sean are all going to miss the fuck out of her. Phyllis was one of a kind and no one will ever walk this earth and replace her. Phyllis is and will be missed for generations to come.
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