Emilyn Louise Addison

Emilyn Louise Addison was born on September 16,1936 in New York City to Ernest and Emilyn Harper. As irony would have it, her childhood neighborhood would be the future home to Lincoln Center, where she and Robert aka Bob would later hold season tickets. She often joked with her fellow season ticket holders, that they were probably sitting in her bedroom. She was affectionately known as Trudi. She was given that name when a neighbor declared, “We can’t have two Lynn’s on the same floor.” The nickname was derived from Gertrude Ederle; first woman to swim the English Channel. In tribute to Gertrude, Emilyn was nicknamed Trudi. She started her life in the city and later moved with the family to The Bronx.

Trudi attended New York City public schools and graduated from Evander Childs High School, in The Bronx, in June of 1954. She often touted the outstanding quality of New York City public school education at the time. She would go on to attend the City College of New York where she met her husband, the late Robert Ellsworth Addison. Trudi and Bob met shortly after he returned to college from a tour in Vietnam. When they began dating, they became inseparable. Bob became a member and later an officer in the Omega Psi Phi fraternity, and that led to many fraternity dances, parties at Jones Beach, tailgating, and trips to the Penn Relays in Philadelphia. She would recall the fun and happy trips to Philly where she enjoyed the lively step shows. Trudi vividly recalled date nights which consisted of driving the Harlem River Drive, watching the boats head out to sea or observing the planes take off from Idlewild Airport (JFK) and great discussions about the many trips they would take as husband and wife. Trudi later graduated from Mercy College in Dobbs Ferry, New York in May 1977 and later became a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority (DST).

Trudi and Bob were married on June 25, 1960, at Saint Andrews Episcopal Church, Harlem, New York. They lived in a one-bedroom apartment on Riverside Drive in Manhattan until they built their home in Yonkers, New York in 1967. She reminisced about the festive dinner parties, lively card games and get togethers at their first apartment. The get togethers would continue in Yonkers but morphed into DIY projects with family members and friends. Bob would identify a project and either his brother-in-law, Ernest Woods or best friend, Kenny Braithwaite would engage in full out construction. The construction “projects” allowed Trudi to refine her culinary skills. (Boy could Trudi cook!) From this union, Traci Harper Addison-Sarauw and Scott Harper Addison were born. Trudi and Bob remained happily married until his death on October 24, 1997. Family was of the utmost importance to Trudi. She became a stay-at-home mom and thoroughly enjoyed being a wife and mother. Trudi believed in supporting family and often hosted family and friends from out of town. On many occasions, she supported her children in school by volunteering as the class mother and Boy Scout Den Mother. Trudi was extremely proud of her husband and the children they raised. She was enamored by her grandson, Jack, and overjoyed by the addition to the family. She was also grandmother to her furry grandson, Kutumba.

Trudi later returned to the workforce after her children became of school age. She served in various administrative and educational positions. She decided to leave her beloved New York to relocate to Silver Spring, MD, to be near her daughter approximately 16 years ago. Although, she thoroughly enjoyed living in the “DMV”, Trudi was a person who proudly wore her New York persona.

She was an avid reader and valued the importance of reading, especially the newspaper. Growing up Trudi would read the newspaper daily with her father and engage in high level political discussions. She could not go a day without the newspaper and although she tried digital versions, she would soon revert to print. “There is just something about a newspaper and a good cup of coffee,” she would proudly exclaim. Her hobbies included cooking, traveling with family, completing crossword puzzles, camping, boating, RVing, collecting butterflies, listening to opera and jazz, attending plays, fashion, creating floral arrangements, home décor, and sewing. Her favorite colors were crimson red (DST) and navy blue which was reflected in her fashionable couture. She loved detective and crime shows, with Law & Order being one of her favorites (behind Hawaii 5-O and Barney Miller).

Trudi was a loving, caring, resourceful, devoted and a highly resilient woman who had the ability to withstand and overcome many of the challenges life threw at her. There were tears, but there were far more joys. Trudi followed the cup is half full philosophy. She always looked for the good in people and the brighter side of any difficult situation. This was quite evident to Bob who affectionately called her his “Little Trooper.” Nothwistanding that quick wit and sense of humor peppered throughout hilarious conversations and numerous encounters.

Trudi is survived by her daughter, Traci Harper Addison Sarauw; son, Scott Harper Addison; son-in-law, Rodney Morton Sarauw (more like a son); grandson, Jack Harper Addison; sister, Rovina Gill, nephews: Tracy Catlyn, Tony Catlyn, Kevin Gill, Ralph Martinbrough, Shawn Martinbrough; nieces: Grace Catlyn, Judy King, Staci Winston, Tiffany Martinbrough and adopted daughters Melody Tiddle, Kara Addison, and Anita Hughes. There is also family and friends too numerous to mention in California, New York, Massachusetts, Maryland, Washington, DC, the United States Virgin Islands and Barbados.

She departed this life on August 4, 2024, in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Trudi was a vivacious, colorful, and charming soul who will be profoundly missed.

A gather at funeral home for Emilyn will be held Wednesday, August 21, 2024 at 9:30 AM at O.B. Davis Funeral Homes - Miller Place, 1001 Route 25A, Miller Place, New York 11764. Following the gather at funeral home will be an interment at 11:00 AM at Calverton National Cemetery, Wading River, Wading River, NY 11792.