Obituary

Harriet Deutsch, a lifelong Charlestonian, died Thursday at 94 after a short illness.

Born to Fred and Roslyn Bloomberg, Harriet was the younger of two daughters and grew up in a home filled with music and books. Her father played violin with the Charleston Symphony while operating the family furniture store, and her mother instilled a lifelong love of reading.

Harriet graduated from Wheaton College in Norton, Mass. While there, she went on a double date at West Virginia University. The other couple included Don Deutsch, a Parkersburg native, military veteran and several years her senior. That chance meeting led to a marriage that lasted nearly 65 years, until Don’s death five years ago.

Harriet devoted her considerable energy to raising their three sons. She taught them to play cards, read books and treat people with kindness. Parenting also required her to become an unexpected nurse, helping her children through medical challenges with characteristic grit and grace.

Over the years, she built a wide circle of friends. She volunteered often, serving on boards and giving her time to causes that helped children. Even in her 90s, her social calendar was enviably full. Just weeks before her death, she was attending book club, investment club, mahjong and bridge. She was casually stylish, a candid conversationalist who laughed easily.

A lifelong member of Temple Israel, Harriet treasured the friends who gathered for Shabbat services and dinner. They helped keep her active, engaged and connected. She was not one to stay home to cook and clean. But when the occasion called for it, she could throw a pretty fabulous dinner party.

As a grandmother, she enjoyed watching her grandchildren grow into interesting adults. She was loving but no pushover. When her grandson lost a game of hearts at the kitchen table, he protested, “Grandma!” Smiling, she replied, “There is no grandma in cards.”

Harriet was private about adversity in her life, preferring to focus on the people and pursuits she loved. In her memory, read a good book, pet a dog or order “a Scotch in a dirty glass.”

She liked to win a spirited argument. The other night, she declared, “It’s over.” Her contrarian son disagreed. She was right.

What a dame.

Survivors include her son Jack, his wife Lori Berman and their son Adam, all of Bethesda, MD; her daughter-in-law Patty Deutsch of Davidson, NC; granddaughters Ali Deutsch of Davidson and Leisa Deutsch of Houston; and great-grandson Dylan Plunk  of Houston.

She also is survived by her sister Flo Hoffheimer of Cincinnati and her sons Fred Hersch and Hank Hersch.

Her oldest son, Jerry, died in 1983, and her second son, Don Jr., died in 2009.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Temple Israel.

Contributions may be sent to the Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation – the Jerome Deutsch Fund, c/o The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation, P.O. Box 3041, Charleston, WV  25331.

Condolences can be sent to Barlow Bonsall Funeral Home.