Lenore Cymes
1941-Dec. 22, 2020
Palo Alto, California

Lenore Cymes, Age 79, died in her home in Palo Alto on December 22, 2020. She was a true force of nature, a creative spirit, a fiercely loyal friend, a fun-loving mom and a kick-ass grandma.

Born in the Bronx, NY, Lenore was a first-generation American, born to Polish immigrant parents. She made her way to Palo Alto in the mid-1960's and forever after called it home, leaving only to explore various corners of the globe. While she worked in marketing to pay the bills, Lenore's true canvas was the world around her. Equal parts class and funk, outspoken and endearing, wise and witty, she was never one to sit still, unless she needed to stop and refill the tank on her signature pink Vespa.

Lenore devoted herself and her time in service to organizations dear to her heart. She literally donned her wings for years as a bike parking angel during the SF AIDS Ride, served as a reading tutor for elementary school kids in East Palo Alto, and was instrumental in transforming the Edgewood community shopping center. She travelled to New Orleans to aid with Hurricane Katrina recovery while also building Habitat for Humanity homes in the Bay Area, she turned her driveway into a semi-annual collection hub for the Ecumenical Hunger Project, and for decades turned protests and democratic campaign rallies into parties with a cause.

Her daily coffee shop group became a surrogate family, her lunch group was nourishment for her soul and her garden served as the gathering place for events large and small. Somehow she also had the energy to fulfill a lifelong desire to create music joining the Dharma Drum group and exercising her vocals with the World Harmony Chorus.

She is survived by her two most cherished individuals, her grandkids Kieran (15), and Amelie (9), as well as her daughter Nina, her son Michael, her son-in-law Brad, her sister Annette, Oscar, who was for decades her co-conspirator in all things creative, and a multitude of dear friends.

For those wishing to donate in her honor, please consider The Friendship Circle of Pittsburgh, PA, a non-profit social organization she embraced for their mission of bringing together individuals with and without special needs which has deeply enriched the lives of her two grandkids.

A celebration of life will be planned when it is once again safe to gather, hopefully in the fall of 2021, as it was her wish for everyone to be together in person.