Dear Donald and Family,
Paul and I are so saddened by your loss. May Linda’s memory be for a blessing.



Dear Donald,
Sending condolences in this time of sadness and loss to you and your family. 

Marsha Saiff



My deepest sympathies to Linda’s family. She was smart, thoughtful, generous and kind. Linda always made you feel as though she was overjoyed to see you.  She shared her great  wisdom and great spirit with so many. She will be missed. 

This post is in memoriam to my courageous, strong, smart, feisty and fabulous friend & colleague, LINDA LAKIN. She has a lot to teach us.

Here’s an excerpt of a conversation she shared with me during one of her many chemo infusions:
 
“How are you?”, asks Derrick, the hospital tech, on auto pilot.

Linda answers, “Do you really want to know”?

He stops short and replies, “Tell me how you really are and I’ll tell you what’s going on with me.”

“Fair enough. I don’t feel well and it sucks to be back in treatment getting more chemo. Your turn.” She’s wondering … what could be so challenging for this healthy 22-year old guy?

“I work at this hospital full time and I’m going to nursing school full time and I’m drained, tired and burned out.”

Their conversation goes on. Linda listens and gives some great advice. Derrick listens and sees how he might manage his load without crashing. Linda’s load is lightened by this exchange.

You’ve just witnessed an honest conversation.

Sometimes you want to get to this deeper Linda/Derrick level – but sometimes you don’t… for all kinds of valid reasons.

Linda always went for the authentic conversations. And we all learned from her.

We can hardly believe that Linda won’t be with us any longer. Her indomitable spirit, upbeat and joyful, was such a gift to all who knew her. It was our privilege to have known her as a friend and colleague, and we will miss her lovely personality. The many comments by others here have warned our hearts and painted a true picture of Linda. Thank you to all who have written their remembrances. 

My deepest sympathy for you loss.  I knew Linda for many years.  I had lots of great conversations, laughs, classes and fond memories  with her.  I have been horribly saddened by such a very enormous passing.

I am deeply saddened by the passing of Linda Lakin. I met her a few times when she attended and came to support our commemoration programs to remember the victims of the 1994 Genocide in Rwanda and to support Samantha's work with Genocide survivors  and her research in  and advocacy work for the great lakes region which she was very proud of.   She was always so kind and her beautiful human spirit radiated throughout her face.  I will always remember her for that.  Sending my deepest condolences to her entire family and friends. May the beautiful memories you have of her always serve as a source of strength and encouragement. May her memory be for a blessing . Jacqueline Murekatete 

It was a wonderful service and a perfect tribute.   Thank you for letting us be a part of today. Linda was one of kind and loved by so many.  We will all miss her. Love, Marc & Hillary Herman

My condolences to Linda’s family.  Linda and I became good friends over the last several years. I am truly thankful that I had the opportunity to cross paths with such a wonderful person.  Unbeknownst to Linda, she became a secret mentor.  I admired how she always seemed upbeat and happy.  She was always looking for a way to make someone else’s day or life better.  She inspired me to be a better person.  Her commitment to AADP was unrivalled.  I will miss my friend dearly but there is solace in knowing that she is suffering no longer and I know we will meet again.

Hugs & Prayers to Donald, Samantha, & Zach, Ben, Susie & Mimi.  We are all heartbroken over Linda’s passing.  May her name be remembered for a blessing.
The Dantus Family

I am so saddened by the news of Linda's passing.  My deepest sympathies to Donald and family. She was my big sister when I joined AADPA, and we spent many wonderful times together. Linda was a wonderful friend,  wife, mother, leader and human being.  She had a lively and energetic personality that everyone wanted to be around. She was a warm, friendly and loving person who talked about her husband and children before anything else. Linda had an awesome sense of humor and her laugh was infectious. She will truly be missed by so many of us that knew her, but I can see her in Heaven telling everyone to gather around, because she has a brilliant idea.

Don and Family,

I am so sorry for your loss.  I knew Linda through AADP.  Her love and passion for AADP and dentistry was quite apparent.  

Linda was always encouraging to me and supported female leadership in dentistry.  I consider her a mentor and friend.  I feel so fortunate to have known Linda.  She will be greatly missed. 

My condolences on your loss,

Sarah Heuer

Dear Donald and family,

Words cannot express our deep sorrow for the loss of our beautiful friend Linda. We met in 1986, our first born children were in Gymboree class. We became instant friends, 36 years of family friendship. We celebrated many milestones together, some happy, some sad. Always there for each other...We could go for months without speaking and pick up just where we left off. Her love for family and friends was always evident. Linda lit up any room with her presence and love. I love you my dear friend...

Prayers for the family in your time of grief. Linda was a dear friend and a joy to work with in our dental academy. She was one of the few people you meet that leaves a lasting impression of genuine goodness. Such a sweet soul to lose, but I am sure a true angel in heaven. She will be missed by all.

My deepest sympathy to Linda's family for the loss of your beloved wife and mother. I’ve known Linda through AADPA over the last couple decades. She was dedicated to the academy but most of all, a good friend to so many. Linda always had a way of making everyone around her feel special. I am truly saddened by this news today. Her loss will be felt by us all. Rest in peace dear friend. 

I met Linda through th American Academy of Dental Practice. She always greeted me with a smile and a hug and we would catch up again. Her contributions to the Academy are legand to all whose lives she touched. A wonderful loving wife, mother and example to her family. She fought a courageous battle with her illness and never had a negative attitude. Our deepest sympathies and prayers to Donald and the family at this time of loss.  

Sandy Parrott 

I knew Linda when she was a member at CanDo fitness. She always had a smile on her face. She was a fine person and lovely woman. May her memory be a blessing.

I am so deeply saddened to have lost such a wonderful friend, in Linda.  My heartfelt condolences pour out to the entire Lakin family for your loss of such an amazing wife, mother, grandmother, friend and human being.  It is hard to accept that I will never see that beautiful smile, or hear that infectious laugh again.  I will miss Linda so much and will cling to some wonderful times.  My prayers for peace and comfort extend to you all.
Phil Strevey 

Dearest Donald and family,
Words cannot express how I feel about the loss of our darling Linda.  Please know you are in my thoughts and in my heart and wish I could put my arms around all of you. The Lakin’s will always be a part of the Appel family. 
Love you all, 
Nancy Appel

I am so saddened to be scribing another obituary for a beloved member. 2022 has been a brutal year!  Linda Lakin was a kind, cheerful, intelligent, giving, successful professional woman.  She literally started at the beginning and worked her way to the top of the ladder.  I knew her as a friend, a colleague, a trusted confidant, a Board member and President and a consultant.  There was nothing she would not do and nothing that was impossible.
Linda Lakin was profound, yet amusing, careful, yet wistful, charming, yet relatable. We met at an AADPA meeting around 1994 and looked forward to seeing each other every year.  Linda, with Donald at her side always encouraging her, grew up in an age when women were not consultants, were not Board members and never Presidents.  She persevered and broke glass ceilings throughout her personal and professional life.  I am not sure what drew people to Linda, but we were enticed. Perhaps it was her exquisiteness inside and out.  We always had dinners together, but I never spoke with her at length, because she had so many admirers who wanted to sit near her.  I was happy just to be in her presence.  And I loved that laugh.
Though life was sometimes not fair, she always seemed well up to the task of encountering those trials. Never a moan and never a complaint.  She was able to demonstrate to life who was in charge.
Linda’s enthusiasm and affection as a mother, wife, and daughter was second to none. Linda encircled her children and husband with her love and her full consideration. When I would ask how she was doing, I would hear about the children first, then Don, then what she was up to.  We were all blessed to know her.
When I learned of Linda’s illness I knew she was a fighter and would not give up.  She was always at the gym, always attending meetings and always appearing at social events.  Always the warrior, we were not worried, because she never appeared to be concerned.  We all thought, she is going to beat this thing because 

So, when I got the notice that she had passed it was a tremendous shock.  Remembering how many lives she touched, how many causes she championed, how she made AADP a better place and how she gave to her children and husband, gives us solace.   To say she will be missed is an understatement.  Meetings, her family, and dentistry will never be the same.
Linda will always be remembered for her enthusiasm and kindness, her dedication to our Academy as a group and as individuals, her wisdom and unflagging positivity, and her great big Jewish mother’s heart. She set a pattern of bravery and empathy that motivated everyone who knew her. Unfortunately, we will miss her at meetings, but our loss is God’s gain!


End it was a bright light and leader for so many of us. Her gifts to our profession and our Academy were immeasurable.  But her greatest gift was always her genuine friendship. When she looked at me she looked right into my heart. She was an idea person and a people person, never judging or diminishing always encouraging and enlightening.    I am heartbroken by her loss and my heart goes out  to Donald, your beautiful children and your collective family and friends.    Love and healing prayers to you all!  

My deepest condolences to her entire family. I am so very sorry to hear of Linda’s passing. I met Linda when we were both 4 yrs old and went to the JCC. We then went from kindergarten throughhigh school together. We even lived around the block from each other with our backyards facing each other. I even got to see her during college when I would visit her for free dental cleanings.  She will surely be missed by all who knew her. May her memory always be a blessing.

Heidi Frisch Rosen

OBITUARY

Linda B. Lakin

December 1, 1958 – November 5, 2022

Bernheim-Apter-Kreitzman Suburban Funeral Chapel

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