Abbie Whitney

I met Abbie in October 1985 when she and her family came to Cleveland for the wedding of our children, Robin and Jim.  I was dazzled by this fair skinned woman with beautifully coifed blond hair, not straight and hanging in her eyes like mine tends to do.  She was slim, very pretty and beautifully dressed.

She hosted the rehearsal dinner at Jim’s favorite Cleveland restaurant, The 100th Bomb Group restaurant on Brookpark Road.  It was a lovely event with each Whitney introducing themselves and talking about Jim and when and where they met Robin.  Only hitch was that the Whitneys arrived 45 minutes late as those Utahans got lost on their way to the restaurant.

When our children returned from their honeymoon in Greece, Ralph and I and my sister Dee Dee and her husband Ted, headed to the wilds of Utah ski country.  Abbie hosted a lovely reception at the Stein Erikson ski lodge in the mountains above Park City.  She entertained us in her charming home in the Park Meadows development in Park City.  We learned that this athletic women played tennis, golf and was an avid skier. And that she was a talented water color artist.  I have two of her lovely pictures hanging in my home.

That began our partnership as the mothers and grandmothers.  We shared many happy moments watching our children’s family grow, especially 20 years ago when Robin and Jim moved to Park City.  We shared many birthday and Christmas celebrations.  We were in the hospital together for Claire’s birth. For Grace’s graduation from high school.  Shared the Winter Olympics in 2002. Watched Robin and Jim’s family move into their mountain top home and open their colorful office. And this past December 28th I was there when Abbie hosted a lovely bridal shower at her club for her granddaughter, Whitney Tullis.  Her hair was still beautiful while mine was hanging in my eyes.

While we only visited together three or four times a year we became girlfriends.

Abbie passed away yesterday afternoon from an apparent massive heart attack. Ralph and I are going to miss our dear friend.