Carolyn Frances Reznikoff, z”l, passed away May 20, 2022.
Carolyn is survived by her husband, David Porter; daughter, Sasha Porter (Pyxie Starr); sisters, June Reznikoff (David Simon) and Laura Olson (Steve Olson); nieces, Erika Zarco (Travis Higginson) and Charlotte Simon; and cousins, Claudia Bernard (Howard Herman) and Nancy Bernard.
She was the eldest daughter of Ruth and Simon Reznikoff, z”l. She was born in St. Louis, Mo., June 3, 1947. She graduated from Pitzer College and earned her MSW at San Diego State. While there she started one of the nation’s first shelters for homeless youth. After graduate school she followed her sister June to Portland, where she lived the rest of her life. In 1979 Carolyn married David Porter, with whom she lived a challenging and deeply satisfying life for 43 years. They had one daughter, Sasha Porter, who lives in Olympia, Wash.
Carolyn had found her calling as a social worker in hospitals, home health, and hospice for over 30 years. She found working in hospice particularly rewarding. She supported the dying and their loved ones in making the transition from life to death, and from this experience she developed skills and understanding which were to serve her well in her own dying process.
After retiring from social work, Carolyn became a master basket weaver, learning and practicing traditional Native American basket-making techniques.
Carolyn had health problems that began early in life when, as an infant, she lost a kidney due to kidney disease. Throughout her long and complex health odyssey, Carolyn sought and found the joy in life.
A memorial service will be held in August.