Obituary of Alissa Goldring

Alissa Goldring died after a long and artful life. She touched many people with her painting, photography, spiritual journey, friendship and mentoring. She is pre-deceased by her son, Eric Reiner (a.k.a. Michael Heartsong), and survived by her two daughters, Hasanna Ryan and Luin Goldring, five grand children (Robert, Simon and Raina; Emma and Liora; and Jonathan and Jennifer), five great-grandchildren, and family from her second marriage. Alissa was born Alice Jan Berman in New York City, and was raised in a secular Jewish household with her younger sister, Betty. She received an MFA from Brooklyn College, married Maury Reiner, and had two children. The young couple bought land in Millwood, Westchester County, where Alice continued to paint and worked as a High School art teacher. Two of her pen-and-ink sketches were published in the New Yorker while she was in High School; she won prizes for her water colors at the Westchester Arts and Crafts Show in 1948 and 1949. After a divorce, she and her children moved to Mexico City in the early 1950s, where she continued to paint and worked as a photographer. Alice married Ira Goldring in 1958 and had a third child. During the 1960s Alice began a process of reflection and personal development that added to her art practice through explorations in psychology and spirituality. Changing her name was part of this process. After her marriage ended, she moved to California with Luin in 1972. Over the next 45 years Alissa maintained her artistic practice, adding printmaking and other visual art forms, while continuing with photography and painting. She was always curious about the world around her. An avid fan of NPR, she listened regularly to "All Things Considered" and "Fresh Air." Alissa loved movies, theater, and literature. Learning of her passing, a librarian at the Capitola library marveled at the number and diversity of books she had borrowed. Alissa loved to travel and took many pictures and filled sketchbooks. She traveled throughout Mexico when she lived there. Later on, she visited and had adventures in the UK, Ireland, Western and Eastern Europe, the Balkans, South Asia, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Canada. One trip took Alissa to her father's place of origin, in Vilnius, Poland. In Canada, she got to know Luin's neighborhood and friends. Her spiritual journey included Zen, Siddha Yoga, and egalitarian and inclusive Judaism. She was involved with Hadeish Yameinu and Temple Beth El. Alissa participated in Open Studio, and contributed photos and drawings to the Porter Gulch Review. She enjoyed walking on the beach near her home, and her friendships with older and newer friends. Alissa lived the last 4 years of her life at Pacific Coast Manor, where she received excellent care. Friends visited her there, and she made new ones. We are particularly grateful for the friendship and visits from Francie Newfield, Lori Klein, Rosemarie Delahaye, Ralph Alpert, Sandie Norwood and Reb Eli Cohen. Upon news of her death, her daughters received emails from many friends who shared memories of Alissa. She was an inspiring friend to people of many ages. Alissa will be remembered and missed. Plans for a celebration of her life to take place in the Spring of 2017 are underway. To be informed, please email [email protected] with "Alissa" in the subject line. If you wish to make a donation in her name, please consider supporting youth arts programs or your Public Library.