Rhoda Fisher Lemlein

Rhoda was born and grew up in Manhattan and later moved to Brooklyn, NY. She graduated from Brooklyn College. She was a bright student who spoke six languages and had an adventurous spirit. She became a translator for the War Department after college and went to work in Germany during World War II. She tracked down her beau Leonard from Brooklyn who was a Captain in the Army and also stationed in Germany. They married in Germany. After the war, they settled in White Plains, NY, and had two children Dian and Neal.

Ahead of her time, Rhoda became a career woman in the 1950s and 60s when many women were stay-at-home mothers. She was the Personnel Director for Grasslands Hospital in Westchester County for several years, now New York Medical College. In addition, she was elected as one of three Human Rights

Commissioners in Westchester County. In the mid 80’s Rhoda and Leonard moved to the La Jolla /San Diego area as Leonard was recruited for a director position at the San Diego Design Center so they could be closer to Neal and his family in L.A. They ended up retiring and living there for over 30 years.

Rhoda gave a lot of her time and talents to volunteering and was a past President of the Brandeis University National Committee, San Diego Chapter. Rhoda had a wonderful sense of style in fashion, art, and home decor. She was a lifelong accomplished artist. In her later years, she had several art shows in San Diego galleries and other locations of her beautiful, colorful mostly abstract and landscape oil paintings. From around 2008 to July of 2023, she was a resident of the Pacific Regent Retirement Community in La Jolla where she was very active and served on many committees.

In July of 2023, she moved to Columbus to be closer to her daughter Dian, and her family. When asked by her brother Hy who is 98 years old what their family secret was for a long life he said: “Our parents instilled positivity and no complaining.” Rhoda was a shining example of that and was a kind, loving, and caring person with a great sense of humor.

She is survived by her brother Hyman Fisher of Livingston, NJ, daughter Dian Robertson of Columbus, OH, and daughter-in-law Patricia Lewis-Lemlein of Erie, CO. Surviving grandchildren are Megan Robertson of Columbus, OH, Brendan Robertson (Kelli Monard) of Los Angeles, CA, Alexandra Lemlein of Denver, CO, and Ryan Lemlein of Erie, CO. Rhoda had three great-grandchildren. Her husband Leonard Lemlein died in 1996 and her son Neal Charles Lemlein died in 2022.

Details for a private service in her memory are to be determined.

Donations can be made in memory of Rhoda to Planned Parenthood https://www.weareplannedparenthoodaction.org

Arrangements have been entrusted to SCHOEDINGER NORTHWEST.