Lori Luft
June 23, 1947-Jan. 16, 2016
Palo Alto, California

Lori Luft, longtime psychotherapist, active member of Congregation Beth Am, wife of Hal Luft, mother of two, grandmother of three and friend to many, died peacefully at home in Palo Alto on Jan. 16. She was 68.

Diagnosed with an aggressive cancer one year ago, Lori wrote a blog throughout her last year, describing her journey and using it as a vehicle for teaching over 200 others about feeling having had a "life well lived." She communicated with hundreds, but by having each respond to her totally privately, they shared deeply and learned from her.

Her greatest regret -- other than not having more time with family and friends -- was closing her clinical practice. She immediately realized cancer treatment would not allow her to be fully attentive to her patients. Within 10 days of her diagnosis she identified other therapists for each of her patients and met one-on-one with each, yet she offered insightful advice at weekly meetings with professional colleagues up to two weeks before her death.

In her last year, Lori took care of grandson Sol Monday afternoons, attended a Midwest reunion of first cousins, and danced all night at her daughter Jana's wedding. She continued to teach, speaking on the topic of forgiveness at High Holy Day services.

Lori's final gift to her friends and community was to work with Rabbi Janet Marder to create a new ritual: a blessing for one who is dying, called "Sof Ha-Derech: Acknowledging the End of the Journey." She saw this as "an opportunity ... to express some of the thoughts and feelings I have at this time in my life: acceptance, gratitude, and a sense of completion," she wrote in one of her last blog postings.

Lori is survived by her husband of 45 years, Hal Luft; their daughters, Shira Gallagher (Ben Graf) of Castro Valley and Jana Luft (Jason Barbose) of San Francisco; grandson, Solomon Gallagher, and stepgrandsons, Arthur and Max Graf of Castro Valley; sister, Barbara (Vic) Levadi of Livingston, New Jersey; and brother, Allen (Leslie) Levinson of Upper Saddle River, New Jersey -- as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.