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Mixed-media artist publishes tribute to dad

BY ALEX GALLAGHER Progress Staff Writer

Mixed media artist-turned-author Deena Goldstein is proud of the relationship she had with her father Marc Goldstein.

She describes the two as being best friends and there was nothing the two would not do for one another.

“We laughed, supported each other and were there for the difficult times in each other’s lives,” she said.

That included doing everything Goldstein could to support her father near the end of his life.

Her father had fallen terminally ill and just celebrated his 85th birthday when Goldstein feared the worst.

Amidst this fear, she pulled out her phone and began to write. “I wrote and wrote and I sat in the silence of the flipping numbers on the clock adjacent to his bed. I was in the midst of the unimaginable – losing my father and my best friend,” Goldstein said.

She felt the most inspired by a nickname he had given her just weeks prior.

“Much like my art, I create/write when I’m moved and inspired,” Goldstein said. “Weeks before my father passed, he called me “Little Bird”–— a pet name he had never used for me before. It was at a moment where there was so much more content and meaning behind the name and I was immediately moved and forever changed.

“I knew at that moment “Little Bird” would take on a life of its own – and it truly did.”

The story began taking on a life of its own as Goldstein reflectws on the bond they forged through humor.

“I was inspired to not only share our relationship, but the gift of humor he lived his life with and the many critical and often life-threatening illnesses and challenges he overcame,” she said. “He never lost his sense of humor. It was this gift he gave me that provided me the strength to navigate the unthinkable deep waters of loss and most anything in my life.”

She relied on the memories of that humor to cope with her father’s passing in June 2019.

“My father left me with the gift of humor and the ability to flip anything on its end to make it just a little bit better, his passing included,” she said. “I wanted to share with the reader the example that we have tools in our emotional arsenal that truly help, humor being such an important one.”

She also believes that humor can be a good coping mechanism for others who are struggling with the loss of a loved one.

“Humor has played such an important and natural role in my life,” Goldstein said. “Humor removes the chill from fear and lifts our hearts from sadness and has the ability to re-frame and power through the unthinkable.”

Still, she could not shake the new nickname her father gave her in his final weeks and did not know exactly how to honor the man who raised her.

Then Goldstein decided to revisit her writings and turn them into a memoir titled “OK, Little Bird.”

“Although ‘OK, Little Bird’ is deeply personal to me, it speaks to readers on a variety of levels,” she said. “The book covers hospice, the experience of a loved one transitioning from home to hospice and/or group home care, impending death of a loved one and how do we handle something beyond our control and still allow ourselves to be there wholly for that person.”

Goldstein believes her memoir can be a beacon of hope for those going through the tough experience of grief and loss as well as readers who are looking for a unique story about a unique bond forged between a father and daughter.

“I believe those interested in reading an upbeat, irreverent, wry and unfiltered, quirky story of a unique father-daughter relationship told through anecdotes and voicemails,” Goldstein said. “Those interested in family relationships, grief, loss, humor and love to laugh and maybe shed a tear once or twice. If you have a cup of tea, a good snack, it takes the reader on a bouncy ride from laughter to poignancy.” “I want readers to feel they are not alone in how they deal with loss and if I can hand the humor hammer to pound out some of their pain, which fills me with incredible joy and peace,” she said. “I hope readers will laugh out loud, say ‘Oh my God, they didn’t say that!’ and sneak a laugh at something unfiltered, irreverent and just plain funny.

“I hope they have moments where they feel their heartbeat and their breath catch with emotion as they fly with Little Bird on her journey through joy, pain, loss and laughter.”

More than anything, Goldstein hopes the book offers hope.

“Mostly, I hope readers are left with the notion that even in the darkest moments, there is joy to be found in almost anything,” Goldstein said.

“OK, Little Bird” is available on Amazon.com digitally and available for preorder for paperback editions to be released on Feb. 28.

Info: Oklittlebird.com and deenasart. com

Artist Deena Goldstein’s memorior, “OK, Little Bird,” refl ects on her bond with her

father. (Special to the Progress)

23 Local couple helps Shelter Without Walls

BY ALISON BAILIN BATZ

Progress Contributor

To address the unmet needs of Maricopa County survivors of domestic violence and their children who are residing outside of a shelter setting, Jewish Family & Children’s Service founded Shelter Without Walls in 1998. At the time, it was the �irst nonresidential domestic violence program in Maricopa County (and one of the �irst in the nation) to offer comprehensive services to victims who were not in a shelter setting.

“JFCS’ Shelter Without Walls program is focused on helping those domestic violence survivors who have yet to separate from the abusive partner but want to live independently and need assistance to do so safely,” said Linda Scott, vice president of Child & Family Solutions at JFCS.

“The program also targets survivors transitioning out of local shelters, and those living independently from their abusive partners but who are disconnected from services and struggling to remain independent.”

Given the program is run through a nonpro�it, Shelter Without Walls would not be able to operate without community support.

Enter Dr. Herschel Richter and his wife, Valerie.

“We moved to this community in 1965. We raised our children here; we made our life here,” said Richter, who served for many years as a cardiologist across the Valley, including as chief of cardiology at Carl T. Hayden VA Medical Center, before retiring in 2007.

“While we are very blessed that domestic violence as never directly touched our family, it is hard not to think of my own two daughters when I think of the women in need of services from JFCS’ Shelter Without Walls.”

In a show of support for those providing service through the program, and to lend a hand to lift up survivors working through the program, the Richters made the decision on a sizeable investment in it last year, ensuring Shelter Without Walls would not just survive, but thrive, despite COVID-19.

When the Richters learned victims were hunkered down or back in violent situations due to the pandemic, they knew action was required to provide active support to them as they make their way to safety these months later.

“Shelter Without Walls works closely for more than a year – or as long as it takes – with participants to ensure their safety and ability to provide for themselves and their children while maintaining their independence and self-respect,” said Richter. “The goal of staff and supporters is that women and children get safe and stay safe.”

This comprehensive case management, according to Richter, focuses on whatever each individual needs to do this.

“When victims decide to leave their abusers, they need safe, affordable housing. They need food, clothing and cleaning supplies,” said Scott. “They also need mental health support as we’re �inding that COVID-related iso-

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“Shelter Without Walls works closely for more than a year – or as long as it takes – with participants to ensure their safety and ability to provide for themselves and their children while maintaining their independence and self-respect.”

lation — even for those in safe shelter settings – has –triggered feelings of the same isolation in�licted by their abuser.” “We worked very hard for many years to ensure our family was in a good position,” Valerie Richter said. “When we sat down years ago and decided to make the concerted effort to �inancially support causes, we did it and continue to do it to lift others up – especially anyone going through the violence Linda has noted – and help them into a better long-term position.”

According to Scott, this is not the Richters’ �irst time coming to the rescue when a program was in need.

“Within our organization, their generosity has been tremendous,” says Scott, adding the couple was instrumental in the funding of JFCS’ Real World Job Development program.

The program primarily supports young adults between the ages of 16 and 21 who need help preparing for the future as they transition out of foster care, among many others. Their commitment to JFCS’ mission extends even beyond the Shelter Without Walls program. In 2019, the Richters made another major investment in JFCS in support of our new East Valley Healthcare Center in Gilbert.

To learn more, or to get involved, visit jfcsaz.org.

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