Rita Fordham

Rita lived a happy and charmed life. She died peacefully at the age of 93 in her Los Angeles home surrounded by her family. In her last days, she was visited by, and said goodbye to, all her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, along with a steady stream of friends and relatives.

Rita was the only daughter of Rose Farber and Paul Pascal. Rose and Paul were just teenagers when they met in Pittsburgh in the early 1920s. They fell in love and quickly gave birth to a little girl while living briefly in Philadelphia.

Rose and Paul returned with baby Rita to Pittsburgh and their large extended families. Things were changing in the Farber-Pascal clan. California beckoned. Jacob Farber, Rita's Grandfather, had driven west in his Model T. The grueling and dangerous trip took him to Los Angeles, and he returned with glowing reports of the Southern California paradise.

Paul and Rose were among the first family members to make the move, settling in the immigrant-rich Boyle Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles. Rita was first grandchild and oldest among dozens of cousins. They all lived within a few blocks of each other and saw each other on weekends and at family events. Rita's brother, Tony, was 10 years younger. She took care of him from the start and created a bond that would last throughout their lives.

Rita and her best friends, Julie, Gloria, and Natty were inseparable and called themselves the "Blanchard Street Desperados," a name they came up with for their all-girl "detective agency" that, in their imaginations at least, would solve neighborhood mysteries like those they read about in their beloved books. As a teenager, Rita was in a singing group, the Sailorettes, an Andrews Sisters-influenced trio that sang at several school assemblies, and once at the Orpheum Theater in downtown L.A.

In her junior year, Rita met her future husband, Ritchie, on a blind date. When Rita found out that her date was none other than college student and Roosevelt grad-BMOC-sport legend, Richard Fordham, she was nervous and afraid Richard (known to his friends as Ritchie) would have no interest in a silly fifteen-year old like her. Her fears were unfounded. They hit it off and were soon dating.

While Ritchie pursued his studies at City College and starred on the track team, Rita continued at Roosevelt but, now that she had met her true love, she really wasn't much interested in school.

In December Pearl Harbor was attacked and life was dramatically transformed. Both Ritchie and Rita got jobs at the Lockheed Defense plant in Burbank. Rita did her bit working in Lockheed's parts department.

Rita and Ritchie married in the summer of '42. The ceremony was held in Rita's parents' back yard in Alhambra. Rita wore a stylish white suit, but not a wedding dress.

Ritchie was drafted into the Navy in 1944 and was sent to the base at Treasure Island near San Francisco before being shipped to the Philippines. Rita followed him up to the Bay Area and got an apartment in Millbrae. Rita worked in a dress shop while Ritchie trained to be a medic. Ritchie shipped out in early 1945 and was overseas when Rita realized she was pregnant.

Wanting to be with her family during her pregnancy, Rita moved back in with her parents. Ritchie was discharged from the Navy in early 1946.

Ritchie had come back to a young mother with a beautiful two-month old baby, Norma Jeanne. The Fordhams moved into a small cottage in a courtyard in Santa Monica. In those days, this was a long way from their parents, cousins, and friends, who lived in the center of town. Ritchie enrolled at USC and worked. Ritchie's schedule left Rita and Jeannie alone much of the time. She took Jeannie for long walks, but longed for more time with Ritchie, her family, and friends. Then Ritchie's mother hired them to manage the apartment building she owned in downtown L.A. Rita was happier being closer to town and her family.

When Ritchie got his first teaching job in South Central L.A., they moved to Hermosa Beach. They loved it there, became active in a local synagogue, and their second child, Cathy, was born there in 1951. When Ritchie got a job at Mar Vista Elementary School later in 1951, the Fordhams bought their house on Preston Way. This would be their home for the rest of their lives. Rita would live there for 66 years!

Life on Preston Way was active and mostly joyous, an almost Leave-It-to-Beaver-like exemplar of middle-class life in 1950s and 60s America. The block was filled with young families with lots of children. Bob was born there in 1955 and Jon in 1958.

Rita settled into her life as a housewife and mother. She was active in the PTA, Woman's American ORT, and was a volunteer poll worker on election day.

She and Ritchie had an active life. Their twin passions, and the focus of their social life were folk dancing and bridge. The Fordham house was a gathering place for neighborhood. The kids' friends felt more comfortable here largely because of Rita's kindness and hospitality; and maybe because they knew they could get away with a bit more. Many of these friends thought of Rita and Ritchie as their "second parents." They would seek Rita's help and advice when they had problems they weren't comfortable discussing with their own parents.

After more than 20 years as a housewife and volunteer, Rita wanted another challenge. She became a teacher's aide at a Marvin Avenue School in the L.A. school district. After a couple of years as an aide, she was accepted into a special program which would result in a bachelor's degree and a teaching credential. Rita loved being in school and was stimulated by the college environment. She earned her credential at the age of 50. Feeling it was a bit late to start as a full-time teacher, she substitute-taught throughout the L.A. district. Rita taught for over a decade, loving working with the lower grades most of all. She was much beloved by scores of children.

As their children left home, Rita and Ritchie had more time to themselves. They began to travel more, taking trips to Mexico, Europe, and the U.S. They went to two Olympics and attended Elderhostel learning events all over the continent. They also went frequently to concerts, plays, and films; and bicycled along the beach with friends every Sunday. However, their house was always open to their grown children and grandchildren, many of whom came home to live with them on temporary residential stints.

When Ritchie's health started to decline, Rita was his nurse and constant companion. His pain was such that he needed to spend most evenings in bed. Rita sat with him every night, talking or watching TV. Though this was a demanding period, no one ever heard Rita complain.

Rita was devastated when Ritchie died suddenly in 2008, but she was also strong and resilient. She got on with her life. She visited relatives, took classes at the Santa Monica Emeritus University, and of course continued to play bridge. She also had the joy of seeing the births and growth of three beautiful great-grandchildren.

After 2012 Rita's health issues became a factor. Remarkably, she pulled through two major injuries that most people her age don't survive. She fought bravely through the pain and extensive rehab each time, rarely complaining.

By her 90s, life for Rita was more circumscribed. Her mobility was limited and she could only travel rarely. Books, TV (especially Jeopardy) and bridge kept her mind sharp. And Rita's mind was sharp until the end. She never lost her charm, humor, and intense curiosity for what was going on in the world. She remained a marvelous listener and an engaging conversationalist. Until a day or so before she died, Rita was still the person you wanted most to talk to, the one who would be most interested in everything you had to say, the one who made you feel like the most special, most loved and most accepted person in the whole wide world.

Rita is survived by her children, Jeanne Argoff, Cathy Murray, Bob Fordham, and Jon Fordham; her sons-in-law, David Argoff and Tom Murray; her daughters-in-law, Leslie Davis and Michele Mieloch; her grandchildren, Gillian, Colin, Cory, Rosie and Jacob; and her great grandchildren, Josh, Rachel, and Adira.