When Enid passed away I wanted so much to write you but preparations for selling our house seemed to take over, of course, thoughts of you all continually crept into our conversations..... I am so glad you told me that you are actively collecting memories of her. What a treasure you will have. Needless to say, I write this with profound sadness that both Melanie and Enid are no longer here. I express these thoughts with love, humor and no doubt in sympathy. May both of their memories be for blessings.

When Mort and I first moved to Wallingford, Enid reached out to me with loving warmth. We were 'the new kids on the block' and soon became good friends. This was before our oldest child was born; I was a mere 24 years old at the time. In this reminiscing it has occurred to me that the early 1960s was when, I guess I could say, I "came of age". Enid along with a couple of others helped launch me into my adulthood. This may sound a bit corny and odd but I believe those were my adult-real-life-formative-years. I learned a great deal from Enid in all the ventures we did together.

Enid was one of the folks that "introduced" me to the volunteer community of the Ohev Shalom Synagogue. In those early years she was a co-chair of the sisterhood cookbook "Crepes to Knishes (and other dishes)". I enjoyed working on that committee with her.

Enid was the literary editor of the (blue) dedication book for Ohev Shalom's new building (circa 1965) and I was the research editor. I turned all my notes, which were on 3 x 5 cards, (I just tossed them out only a year ago!) over to Enid for her and another person to put into perfect form for publication.

Enid and I co-chaired the 2nd and 3rd annual Holiday Fair (the major fund raiser at that time for Ohev Shalom); each year we far exceeded our financial expectations. That event ran for at least 10 more years. I'll never forget when Enid and I scouted out a variety of professional carnival firms (what an experience) to provide us with the rides and games... ... with one sojourn to Norristown to find 'just the right company" which was then employed for those subsequent fairs at OS.

I'm not sure what year it was, but I vividly recall Enid's first one-woman show! If my memory serves me correctly it was at the Gershman Y at Broad and Pine. With wine glasses in hand Mort and I joined Enid and Gene at 210 Sykes Lane to help put "names" on Enid's paintings. What a blast of an evening that was; the more we filled our glasses the more we laughed and the better the titles! I also was honored to be one of three hostesses (with Sally Balin and I think Cecily Morris) for the wine and cheese reception for that show.

Another important aspect of my own life in which Enid played an important role was that she Introduced me to artist Samuel Feinstein's painting classes... Mondays to Philadelphia on Chancellor St. Sam made an impact on my artwork.

I was always quite fond of Enid and admired her intellect and her talents. Besides her exquisite, artistic gift I recall her gardening skills when she acquainted me with the world of succulents.

In addition she was a wonderful cook. I mentioned the Ohev Shalom cookbook which boasts of many of her recipes but I also have, in my extensive recipe collection, some of Enid's handwritten cards, two in particular I am still using, which of course I dubbed "Enid's Sour Cream Coffeecake" and "Enid's Cheese Cake". I personally love the recipes that are in the cook's own hand. I treasure these two because they are truly a reminder of Enid.... with her mark of a meticulous, rounded script!

Over the years our lives took different turns but Enid and Gene remained special in our hearts. I appreciate, value and cherish the memories I hold of Enid Mark. I feel privileged to have known her.

Thank you for allowing me to share these fond memories with the two of you.

With affection,
Elsa (and Mort, too!)

Enid's Sour Cream Coffee Cake   dated December 4, 1961

Cream together:
1/4 lb butter
1 C sugar

add
2 eggs- beat well after each
1/2 pint sour cream
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda

2 C flour folded in to the above batter
spoon batter in to prepared pan

mix following together
1/2 C Brown Sugar
1 Tbs Cinnamon
1 Tbs Cocoa
sprinkle on the batter

Preheat oven to 350º
Bake at 350º  45 minutes

Enid's Cheese Cake   dated December 4, 1961


10" Springform pan ... line with Graham  cracker shell
1 lb  cream cheese
2 eggs
3/4 C sugar
1 tsp vanilla
Beat above for 10 minutes
Bake  350º for 25 minutes
cool thoroughly
mix 1 pint sour cream 4-5 tsp sugar
1 tsp vanilla
Beat for 2 minutes

Spread over cooled baked pie
Bake at 450º for 5 minutes.