Dawn's Brain - Elaine "Petie" Koverman Memorial

Anecdotes

and Personal Memories

Petie and I were very close friends for many years, through running (of course), but this led to many other areas of mutual interest. Of course, Petie made everyone feel special, and actually she was the special one. A year ago, March 7, 1999 we spent a week together with Gary and my husband, Keith, in Honolulu and we ran the Womens' 10k race! Petie had participated in it at least 6 times, and I had always wanted to do it. When she told me of her diagnosis a couple of months prior, I was determined to make the event with her. We enjoyed such a fun week. We each loved the Academy of Art but had never been there together, and savored hours there the day before the race. Race morning was warm and with her other friends we enjoyed every minute of it. Waiting for awards we discovered we each had come in 4th in our age divisions and missed receiving a Tiffany silver bowl by one place! More laughs. We consoled ourselves with plumeria leis that evening...

We also spent a wonderful week in Provence, France after the Avon Womens Marathon - Joan Ullyot, Gail Rodd, Petie and I, and we all have wonderful photos of that trip.

Fran Crawford [3/18/00]

I'm still so saddened and shocked that Petie isn't with us anymore. The things I remember about her are so difficult to put into words--her warmth, her laughter and smile and her ability to put anyone at ease. I will miss the runs that we would have with Susan, Leo and Lucy (which weren't happening as much for the last few years, unfortunately). I was always so proud to know such a "famous runner". She was always such a supportive presence. Even if you didn't see her for long stretches of time, you could always pick up where you left off. We will miss her.

Ruth Anderson [3/15/00]

I am so happy you are doing such a great job memorializing a dear lost friend, Petie. I met Petie in 1973 through running with the DSE RUNNERS, and at my first local races. What a warm, friendly person she was, and so encouraging for me as well as all the other women. There weren't very many of us, and her example of what was possible for us was so inspirational... Petie will never be lost in my memory (barring Alzheimer's -- Petie would have liked such a joke.) She had a marvelous, along with all her other attributes, sense of humor.

Jane and Don Harvey [3/12/00]

Don and I met Elaine through Gary whom we had known for years through our mutual boating interests. We have a cabin at a small lake in Idaho and we invited Gary to bring Elaine up for a visit to Spirit Lake. I thought I was a jock, having run 10 Bay-to-Breakers. Elaine jumped into the Lake, went half way across and then swam back before running 5 miles in our beautiful woods. I thought WOW!!! she's something else. Then I got to know her and she was indeed something else. Gary and Elaine were married after their visit to the LAKE. We spent some evenings together and the most memorable one was in September before she left for Texas. She looked fantastic and we made summer plans for a return trip to Spirit Lake, Idaho.

I think Elaine offered me the encouragement to do whatever I wanted. I feel so lucky to have known her. I think she just made people feel wonderful and that anything was possible. Don and I will truly miss her.

Anny Eaton [3/10/00]

Petie, her roommates: Rosie Rosenbaum (Billips), Reda Payne, and Shirley Prebel lived near me in Redondo Beach around 1959. All were stewardesses until Petie quit to work at LAX Medical for a few years. One of my favorite Petie stories was the day she forgot to take her lunch (peanut butter sandwich) to work. On her way home from Medical she was by then pretty hungry. All she could think about was that peanut butter sandwich and how good it was going to taste. She arrived at her apartment and found her three roommates still in their pajamas watching TV (probably 5pm.)She by-passed them, headed straight for the regrigerator only to discover her peanut butter sandwich was gone. She confronted her three suspects, broke into tears sobbing and yelling, "You ate my peanut butter sandwich!" At which point her three roommates got up, dressed, and went to the market to buy groceries. Petie and I became fast friends when we, along with Carol Hazlett, opened the third Red Carpet Room for UAL in 1963 at LAX. There is a painful void in all our hearts, yet her presence is easily evident when remembering our own special "Petie times"

CJ Weber Borden [3/9/00]

I just got hooked up to my new computer today and read of Petie's death. Petie and I met in Los Angeles in the early 1960's when she worked at UAL Medical. At that time she lived with Rosie Rosenbaum. The three of us, and any fourth we could get, played alot of bridge together. We were very poor in those days and playing bridge was a good, fun, and cheap evening. I was based in SFO when she was flying out of there, but transferred to DCASW in 1969 so didn't see much of her after that. However, once a friend always a friend, and I considered her just that. She was g great gal and a real trooper and surely will be missed. My sympathy to her family and all who knew her. Love to all, CJ "Weber" Borden ---- UAL retired.

Joseph Ramirez, Jr. [3/6/00]

I am so sorry to hear about your aunt. In any case I personally feel very lucky to have met her. She was a wonderfull little gem of a person and I too will miss her. ... It feels kinda strange, I am sad that we lost her but I can't help but laugh at the same time, because she will always be the lady who didn't want to shake my hand because my nails were too pretty. The things we remember.