Diane Mesirow

MESIROW DIANE KAY BLANKEN MESIROW Born October 28, 1933, Diane Kay Blanken Mesirow died April 17, 2021. Wife of Harold Mesirow for 58 years until his death in 2013, Diane is survived by her brother Bill Blanken and his wife Shirlee; her children Tod, JodiLee and John Mesirow; her six grandchildren Benjamin, Thea, McLain, Zoe, Cal and Cole; and her great granddaughter Marlowe. Diane is predeceased by her sister Joan Roth. Known far and wide for her enthusiastic embrace of life and boundless curiosity, Diane was an award-winning painter who pursued her art with focus and passion. She was a lifelong student of mentor and friend Doris Haskell. She graduated from the University of Maryland with a degree in English. A native Washingtonian, Diane traveled with a fearless desire to explore the world. From Machu Picchu to St. Petersburg, Alaska to Egypt, the YucatÁn to Hawaii, Costa Rica, Honduras and more, Diane was the ultimate curious explorer who made friends everywhere, and relished the opportunities life presented. She was in China when the tumultuous events in Tiananmen Square occurred. A passionate advocate of reading and literacy, Diane volunteered at her local public library, working with the Friends of the Little Falls Library. She was never without a book and was a founding member of possibly the longest running book club in the country. Diane also relished her time as a volunteer in the library of the Washington Hebrew Congregation. Active in local politics and a staunch Democrat, for many years Diane enjoyed the opportunity to work as a Chief Election Judge. Pursuing her love of culture she attended the opera, symphony, theater, and ballet as a subscriber for decades. Diane was a Washington sports fanatic, holding season tickets to the Washington Football Team most of her life, and the Nationals beginning with their long anticipated inception. Diane and Harold traveled to every home team Super Bowl appearance. She was an avid tennis player and golfer. Diane throughout her life insisted on being involved with all her grandchildren. They were a consistent focus of her travel for birthdays, graduations and weddings. All of her grandchildren valued her attention, her love, and her devotion to them. There will be a service at Washington Hebrew Congregation at some future date when in-person gatherings are safe. Contributions can be made to JSSA, Jewish Social Service Agency. jssa.org, 6123 Montrose Road, Rockville, MD 20852.