CELEBRATING GENENE

Our million dollar baby, Genene Gila Hirschhorn was born on June 20, 1970, weighing

only 5½ lbs.

Early on, Genene had a passion for music. She played the flute for eight years in Holmdel, New Jersey school orchestras, in the Temple Shalom orchestra and at nursing homes.

How fortunate we were to be entertained by her powerful voice at home while she practiced with a hairbrush for a microphone; and accompanied by her brother, Garrin on guitar. This creative duo eventually recorded covers of songs and especially those with original lyrics and melodies on Garrin's 4 track. At Holmdel High School, Genene performed at the Friday night 'coffee house.' Together they wrote and recorded original music in a studio with songs such as "Love Remains", "You in My Dreams" and "Make Me Happy". What a team!! Genene and Garrin shared a lifelong passion for hard rock and heavy metal music and attended numerous concerts together.

At Spanish River High School, Genene and Garrin performed the HEART song, "What About Love" in a talent show and won first place. While attending the University of Miami summer band camp, Genene was featured as a soloist, performing, "There Comes a Time To Be Thankful". Years later, Genene sang solo at an ice hockey game in Huntsville, Alabama stadium in front of 3,500 spectators with her rendition of the 'Star Spangled Banner'. Additionally, she performed with her band, Providence in Ft. Lauderdale and other cities. She also enjoyed the theatre arts and received the role of Chava in Fiddler on the Roof.

Academically, she was placed in advanced classes in middle and high school and received scholarships at graduation. As a student at the University of Florida, she wrote articles for the student newspaper, the Independent Florida Alligator. Upon graduating from U.F. she had a career in journalism, copyediting and writing for the Sun-Sentinel & New Times newspapers.

Our Genene always took the road less traveled and did things her way. She was not materialistic at all; she resisted the designer jeans her grandmother Judy loved to buy her from the time she was a toddler; and refused to wear shoes, even when learning to ride the bicycle that Uncle Martin bought her at age two.

Genene, we'll miss you dearly and feel so blessed to have had you live with us for the last five months, as we expressed our love for one another with daily hugs, exchanges of daily 'I love you' and heartfelt words of forgiveness amidst tears of joy and laughter.

You'll always be our amazing Champ, our Hero whose courage this past year was especially witnessed during the frequent procedures, surgeries; never, ever complaining. What a mensch!!!

Vera, Marty and Garrin