Kimberly Ann Elias

Kimberly was born on August 28, 1959 in Little Rock, Arkansas to Carolyn and Barney Elias. She moved along with her family to Jacksonville, Illinois in 1969. She graduated from Jacksonville High School in 1977, and after two years at Louisiana State University transferred to the University of Colorado where she graduated with a degree in Journalism in 1982. Kimberly began a long and successful retail career in women’s shoes at Barbara Jean, Ltd. in Little Rock, Arkansas. She was quickly noticed by folks in New York City and moved there to work in the mid 1980s.

What followed was a storied career working for various designers in women’s haute couture shoes, including Bottega Vennetta, Salvatore Feragamo, Bergdorf Goodman’s, Barney’s New York, and last but not least, Manolo Blahnik. Despite growing up in the Midwest, Kimberly was truly a quintessential New Yorker. If you saw her prancing down Columbus Avenue on her way to work, decked out in the most stylish New York fashions, you would have no idea she wasn’t a native New Yorker. Kimberly and her husband, Gary Rugendorf, loved all The City had to offer and took full advantage of the restaurants, culture and traditions. Seeing Kim and Gary in New York was always a culinary and cultural event, whether you visited them at home or at one of their many haunts.

In 2004 Kimberly and Gary moved to Hot Springs, Arkansas to be nearer to family. They opened a lovely boutique called Verdigris that was unique to the Hot Springs’ retail community. After some years they sold the store to enjoy retirement on the lake with their dog, Felix, and cat, Reginald.

Kim loved fiercely and was loyal to those she thought deserved it. Growing up she had a passion for theater arts, she danced and acted in many school productions. But her love for the theater couldn’t quite match her passion for horses. She rode and owned horses her entire young adult life, and then began to ride again as a young woman in New York City. Kim continued to ride and sometimes teach well into her adult life. Kim was one with her animals—Bengal cats being her favorite, they owned three, all of which had names starting with an R—Ralph, Ruben and Reggie. She also adored her rescue dog, Felix. Kimberly was a gourmet cook, always hosting dinner parties in their New York apartment and family holiday meals in Arkansas. She loved going to the movies, listening to all kinds of music, visiting museums, reading, and working the crossword. Kim was fierce in her passion for progressive politics, and created many Facebook friendships uniting with people in her fight to topple 45, let’s hope she enjoyed the victory. There was never a doubt where one stood with Kimberly, she suffered no fools.

Kim fought alcoholism valiantly through the years; however, in the end Kim was unable to overcome that battle, She was a fierce and persistent fighter who lived every day of her life as fully as she could. Her family is left with a hole in their hearts from her absence. Kimberly leaves behind her husband, Gary Rugendorf, her mother, Carolyn Elias, Sister and Brother In Law, Kate and Greg Schaffer, several nieces and nephews—Isaac Schaffer, Jenna Schaffer, and another beloved niece who was like a sister, Kelly Kempner, Michael Elias and Jordan Elias. Kimberly was preceded in death by her father, Barney Elias, sister and brothers, Eve Elias Green, Neal Elias and Ed Elias, Grandmother Sue Parrish and niece Ashley Elias.

Memorials can be made to either the ACLU/Arkansas Chapter at www.acluarkansas.org or Paws and Claws Rescue at http://pawsandclawsrescue.org/.