Aileen Baron was a remarkable woman--a role model, a mentor--funny, witty and full of life. I met up with her at conventions here and abroad. She definitely had a lust for travel. Last year at Left Coast Crime I was so lucky to spend her 90th birthday with her. She was in terrific form, as always, and a small group of us celebrated with cake and candles at the Author Connection.
Writing was her third career. Family, Archeology/Anthropology, and Mystery Writing. She taught 20 years in the Department of Anthropology at California State University, Fullerton. She also spent a year at the American School of Oriental Research in Jerusalem as an NEH scholar an director of the overseas campus of California State Universities at the Hebrew University.
Her mystery series features archeologist Lily Sampson.
She will be missed.
Aileen was a true inspiration. Her birthday party last year at Left Coast Crime was a highlight.
ReplyDeleteI will miss Aileen so much. She was a witty and courageous woman, a rare person and a pleasure to know. So sorry I missed her 90th birthday last year but couldn't make the conference.
ReplyDeleteI had the joy of knowing Aileen when she participated in the San Diego County Library book fest. We were able to have lunch together and she was a delight. I am so sorry that she is gone.
ReplyDeleteAileen moderated the first set of meetings with our book discussion group as we read the California Center of the Book's set of "Women of Mystery" books. She enriched our discussion with her expertise in the genre and in the writing form. She was an author at one of our Literary Orange programs and came back and moderated another set of book discussions for us. What an amazing woman and what a loss to the writing community.
ReplyDeleteJill Patterson,
La Habra Branch Library