APPLEGATE, LOIS MAE

LOIS MAE APPLEGATE, 84, passed away peacefully with her partner, Lanna Rodgers, by her side on Monday, February 4, 2013 at their home in Westlake, Ohio. She is the sister of the late Don (Shirley) and aunt of Deborah Houston (Dave), Scott, Brian (Kathleen) and Steven (Teresa). Lois graduated with a degree in Business from Ohio Wesleyan College. She retired in 1986 from a career in banking and continued to work for political and activist causes. Lois considered herself a “club woman” and was very active in the Cleveland Business and Professional Women’s Club, City Club, College Club of Cleveland and many, many more. She has always been an advocate for women in politics and invested in many community, professional and political organizations. She believed in giving back to her community and was a charter member of Women’s Space which opened the first shelter for homeless women and children in the 1980’s. She was one of the first women to join the Ripon Club, formerly a men’s GOP club, in 1985. She won the Political Achievement Award in 1990 from the Cuyahoga Women’s Political Caucus; the Volunteer Award in 1990, from the Federation For Community Planning and Outstanding Member Award in 1991 from the Cleveland BPW Club. She was an active member of Young Republicans and the Lakewood Republican Club. Lois was a devoted fundraiser for the Women’s Community Foundation and an on-going contributor to Cleveland Foundation, Judy Chicago Art Project, LGBT Center, Soldiers and Sailors Monument and the Gay People’s Chronicle. Lois was a force to be reckoned with. At 5’10”, Lois loved being a member of the “Skyscraper Club,” Travel-Minded Club, Cleveland Couples Together, the First Friday Women’s Group of the West Side and all her friends at the West Shore Unitarian Universalist Church in Rocky River. Towards the end of her life, although she suffered from Alzheimer’s-like dementia, simple things brought her great pleasure. She loved reading and classical music, eating out, mint chocolate chip ice cream, her ice cream t-shirts, clam bakes and jigsaw puzzles. She always had a smile on her face, especially when chopping veggies whenever Lanna made vegetable soup. She contentedly chopped apples for their last apple pie – to be shared with friends at their last Christmas dinner. Lois was the most brilliant, generous, devoted, loving, sweet, fun, silly partner – even to the end. She is deeply loved by all who know her and cherish her altruistic spirit. LOIS WAS BIGGER THAN LIFE. A celebration of her amazing life will take place at West Shore Unitarian Universalist Church to be announced at a later date.

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