Tuesday
Nov062007
Lilly Lipke takes her life away from us
Tuesday, November 6, 2007 at 11:19PM 
This photo is of Brenda and our friend Lilly Lipke about the time Brenda and I began going out. Infact she was with Brenda at the Intersection bar the night I first got Brenda's phone number. Lilly took her life last week and we have been struggling to come to terms with this harsh reality. I have been wearing a pair of clogs all summer and fall that Lilly gave to me. I love them especially now because the represent some kind of tangable link with a friend that no longer exists in this world. Lilly was wonderful in many ways; she was beautiful, smart, artistic, a wonderful cook, and funny. She was also manic depressive and could be very difficult to be with. She has broken our hearts by leaving too soon. Her life was an important one. We miss her. I just can't get my head around the fact that she gone
Reader Comments (10)
I am so sorry, Rick and Brenda. We too have lost loved ones to suicide. You said it so poignantly and well that she took her life away from you.
I am so sorry . so sorry that your friend took her life
so sorry that the illness didn't let her see her beauty.
It gives me pause.
it pauses my own psychotic rage that this very moment I find my self in . It pulls me back to here,
friends
loved ones
love oness that see so much more than at moments we can see for ourselves.
I am so sorry for your lost
Julia
Thank you Julia. I'm glad for your "pause" Our personal feelings can become so overwhelming and they can be so off, so not connected to what is really happening.
Thanks for remembering her. She was unique and beautiful. I miss her too.
I met her a in 2001, a few months after my mom died of cancer, and we immediately connected and quickly developed a close friendship because we had so much in common, in many ways. She was so lively, with a deep fondness for nature, a great sense of humor. We used to laugh until our stomachs were sore and dance around my apartment to The Sound of Music, or Anni DiFranco. She was so creative and rearranged my clothes closet one time (it really needed it), and showed me a new sense of style in fashion. We used to call each other several times a week and share our lives, and supported each other. She was kind, caring, and very understanding. I feel devastated about this, and I dedicated my skating practice to her this morning, because I know how artistic she was. Then, I went to Leddy Beach after the practice to do a few leaps and a twirl around because it was a nice reminder of when we had a picnic there a few years ago, and she was leaping about very gracefully, and with such abandon. It is a very special memory for me and I will treasure it. My heart goes out to everyone who had the fortune of having her in her life. I feel deeply saddened.
Hi Rick,
My name is Nancy. I was a friend of Lilly's. I discovered your site while googling Lilly's name.
I've watched your artwork mature over the years and am really enjoying what you're doing now. The portraits are beautiful.
Dianne Carroll Burdick tells me you painted a portrait of Lilly. Is it something you're sharing? Have you posted in online? I would love to see it.
Also, I hope you don't mind: I posted a cropped version of your photo of Lilly and Brenda on my own blog at
http://nelanj.livejournal.com/316092.html . I've given you credit, but if you wish for it to be removed, I will without hesitation.
My best to you both.
Nancy
Yes I did do a painting of Lilly however I do not have it in a digital format to share on line. She helped me but modeling from time to time over the years.
Thank you for your kind words Nancy.
Rick,
I am so sorry to hear about Lilly. I remember when we all used to go to the Artist's Way group. I always felt that Lilly had an artistic aura about her and I thought it was so sad that she did not seem to realize this. I remember telling a friend about the group and saying, "This woman is probably the most artistic of all of us, but she does not recognize it." May she be free of pain now.
I also found this page when googling my Aunt Lilly, your words and the comments left below them brought tears to my eyes. It is so wonderful to see how well loved she was and I am comforted in know that I am not the only one missing her. Once we were in Vermont together and my grandfathers house and she wanted to go skinny dipping in the snow. I was 11 and completely idolized her so we did it. I am from Arizona so you can only imagine how freezing I was, but it was my fondest memory of her.
I did not know Lilly long but it did not take long to see what a wonderful person was. I remember her passion for politics which was based on her love for people and the environment. I still miss her and think about often