Elizabeth Ann Torsiello
April 18, 1945 - July 8, 2014
Resident of Oakland, CA
Elizabeth Ann Torsiello was born April 18th 1945 and died July 8th, 2014. She was born in Chicago, IL to Dora and William Brow. Dora was the daughter of Mabel and Walter Andersen. Liz was survived by her three siblings Joyce, John, and Tom; by her two children Gina and Ludi; as well as her four grand children David, Kevin, Sierra, and Emi. 
Attending Catholic grade school, Oak Park/River Forest High school in her early life, she finished a degree at Minneapolis Community College. After great success as an Oakland entrepreneur in the 1970's she was a bank teller, a clerk at J.C. Penney as well as a key punch operator, graduating to data processing for Alta Bates, and IT management for Sutter Health. Her last professional decade was spent managing a telephone help desk for Sutter Health. Although she was not fond of working she loved many of the people with whom she shared a career. 
She had the great pleasure of spending her last few years retired from professional obligations and it was during this time that she made her epic pilgrimage to Machu Picchu a place for which she had always longed. Returning to help usher her youngest granddaughter into the world and help raise her. 
She was a collector of objects, experiences, and relationships; an avid movie goer and restaurant diner. In her mid years she was known in bay area social circles for both her quick and dry wit as well as her relaxed carefree nonchalance. She loved the bay area counterculture and held the strictest orthodoxy in her left wing politics. Having abondoned the religion of her youth she found organized religion distasteful, but in her last moments was an open conduit to express the nature of eternity to both her children, her daughter in-law, and a grand daughter. 
Twice married and divorced, she was proud that she had loved deeply and cooperated in successful and fulfilling romantic relationships. She loved more men than she married. She leaves behind several long term and life defining friendships with people that will forever remember her unique expression of love which was a peculiar mix of ill temper and tender acceptance. She is also rejoining a few dear friendships holding for her in eternal space. In her last hours she expressed that she loved you all, that she loved everyone. 
A private memorial service for this unsung icon will be held Saturday August 2nd 2014, from 11:30 AM to 1:30PM, at the Japanese Garden Room in Lakeside Park Garden Center located at 666 Bellevue, Oakland, CA 94610.
Published in Inside Bay Area on July 27, 2014