Lila Natalie Chasin Gaines

Lila Chasin Gaines passed away peacefully Friday night, February 24, 2023, in the presence of her everloving children, Connie Pearl and Keith Chasin. Lila was not 91 years old; she was 91 years young. She is the reason why clichés such as “a life worth living,” “live every day to the fullest,” “make every minute count,” etc., etc. exist.

She was born in Brooklyn to parents Joseph and Rose Kaufman and moved to Long Island in the 1960s with her then husband, Edwin. A graduate of Pratt School of Art, she thrived in her career as a noted commercial artist, winning BOLI awards as her sketches and print medium made their way into the major newspaper for the Island, Newsday. She called her business The AdPro, and also worked weekends at weddings, bar and bat mitzvahs, birthdays, etc. drawing portraits and caricatures of the attendees. Kids would flock around her watching her draw.

In 1989 Lila met Stanley Gaines (r.i.p.), her forever soulmate. They travelled, laughed, loved adventure, and most of all, cherished each other and loved each other’s children. That bond endures to this day. When Lila and Stan moved from Long Island to Tamarac she transitioned to volunteerism at Young at Art, teaching children how to draw everything from water color paintings to cartoons, and JAFCO (Jewish Adoption and Family Care Options), where she was a fierce advocate for children and with Connie’s family, made Dec. 25th “Kosher Christmas” day at JAFCO for several years.

Once Stanley left us, Lila became an active “Mystery Shopper,” as she enjoyed meeting new people every day and critiquing everything from restaurants to hotels to service offered at banks. She would on occasion have to drag her friends along to these mystery shops, only to have them laughingly recount the experience of 2 elderly ladies sitting down at a bar for happy hour or test-driving a Ferrari!

An avid bridge player with a – shall we say – self-taught bidding and playing style, she participated in several weekly duplicate games. During Covid, she started a daily 4:00 p.m. on-line duplicate game where Lila, always computer savvy, would direct all the players. She kept all of her girlfriends in contact despite the pandemic. Her login, like her, was sassyblue.

Lila never sat home doing nothing. She immersed herself in her beloved Kings Point Community in Tamarac, where she participated in the ping pong club, local plays, and the CAT workshop. Every newspaper had one of her cartoons, highlighting the wonderful life she and her fellow King Pointers so much enjoyed. And at night she ushered at all of the Broward Theatres, taking people to their seats and then watching the show. All this from a lady who had 5 hip and 1 knee replacement!

Lila is survived by Connie (Mitch), Keith, and six grandchildren: Jessica, Nicole, Danielle, Theodore, Jordan, and Joshua. She is in the hearts of many blended family members and countless friends and neighbors. Lila will be missed by all. She had a unique ability to speak her mind and then move on, to bring people together, to charm everyone with her beautiful smile, great sense of style, and dry, funny, salty wit. She was hip way before the word was coined. As we mourn her leaving, we will equally celebrate her life. As Lila herself said, “Enjoy what you can. Take what you can. And take some risks! I know, as the biggest risk taker of all – as anyone knows who’s ever driven with me.” Lila, you indelibly touched us all.

A celebration of life for Lila will be held Wednesday, March 1, 2023 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM at Bailey Memorial, 6701 West Commercial Blvd, Tamarac, FL 33319.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.baileymemorial.com for the Chasin family.