Lee was my neighbor in Shaker Heights and my friend for many years. I am so sorry that we did not get to visit more after she moved, but I will always remember her with loving thoughts. She was a beautiful, kind and caring person.
Toni Graham

I didn't know Elena well, but she touched me nonetheless. I think we were friends in the end.

We got off to a rocky start. I can remember her at my interview talk. She asked me a question that roughly translates to: "How can you alter your experimental design to make your work relevant to my work?" The answer is: "You can't, really. We work at such different spatial scales that different processes are governing diversity patterns at those different scales, but that doesn't diminish the relevance of what you do and what I do." [I didn't give that answer; I gave a crap answer.]

I like a person with spirit. Elena had passion to spare. She was not afraid to reveal what she was thinking or feeling. I can remember her getting quite angry at faculty meetings at times. But mainly she was happy, snacking and swapping stories with the secretaries.

Periodically, I have my toddler Cameron with me at work while I pop in to do this or that. Whenever Elena would see him, she would share pretzels with him and talk to him. He responded well to her. He recognized a kindred spirit when he saw one.

Elena and I share a love of Colin Firth. She had a small group of celebrity boyfriends, but I think Colin was the favored choice.  :)

Elena's office and lab are right down the hall from my office. She is generally a happy soul, and would call out jokes to whoever was in the hall. It was quite loud, most of the time. I surprised myself by not minding. It really was loud. :)  She had a particular posture she would adopt when she was making a cheeky joke: with her head tipped to the side, looking out the side of one eye, and gesturing with a pretzel. This memory makes me smile. I didn't attend the visitation or memorial service.  I prefer to think of Elena making cheeky jokes in the office.  She was a force around the department and she will be greatly missed.

She was like a sister to me, growing up together in a group of approximately thirty cousins.  Her Dad and mine were brothers, and I never stopped learning from her.  What a great teacher!

Dr. McCoy, you were definitely one of a kind.  Rest peacefully.

Dr. McCoy - your smile, your heart, your voice - will be missed.  I am thankful to have gotten the chance to work with such a beautiful person.

Professor Mc Coy was a remarkable woman.Her legacy will live on forever. RIP Professor and thank you for all of your help.

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Elena C. McCoy

11 abril, 1936 – 5 junio, 2015

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Elena C. McCoy

11 abril, 1936 – 5 junio, 2015

Harmon Funeral Home

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