In Loving Memory of
Elsa Rivers
November 22, 1939 – September 2, 2021
Virtual Memorial Gathering
Saturday, September 18, 2021 at 2:00 PM EDT
Watch Elsa Rivers Memorial Video
Elsa Rivers died on September 2, 2021, outliving her own prediction by years, multiple times over. She is survived by her only (and much adored) son, David Rivers (surely the most patient man on the planet), and the love of her life, William Lynch (the second most patient man on the planet). Bill and Elsa found each other again, after decades apart, and proved that it’s never too late to find love and live life to its fullest. She also leaves her daughter-in-law, Hagan and two grandsons, Kaylen and Brayden. Those boys could draw out her incandescent smile just by walking into the room with her. Her extended family includes her brother Joe Huback (who died in 2019), her nieces Kristin, Shannon, and Patricia and their families, and a number of discovered relatives in Austria that she visited with David in 2015. Honorable mention goes to Bill’s children and their families, whom she loved as her own.
Elsa was born on November 22, 1939 and grew up during a time of scarcity, which is probably why she never threw away anything that could potentially ever be reused for any reason. Her household collection includes 40 year old shampoo and conditioner, approximately 1.2 cubic yards of candles, and a 25 year old cake in the bottom of her freezer – don’t ask. She was clever and resourceful, often repurposing things to new and novel uses: a bleach bottle becomes a boat bailer and later a dog scoop, a hair coloring bottle becomes an applicator for laundry stains. She liked to fix things and she enjoyed being in charge, which is probably why she had a career in Nursing.
Elsa was a skilled pianist and completed her musical bucket list by making it through Beethoven’s “Tempest” error free (at least during practice). Music delighted and transported her. As a child, her son David would lay under the family piano with the dogs and listen to her practice a piece, hit a bad note, yell a swear word that rhymes with spit, then start the passage again. And again. Until it was perfect. She always expected perfection from herself.
Elsa was fierce and fearless and has, over the years, been found at the top of a 40’ tree – trimming vines out of it, if you must know; upside down inside a septic tank – checking for quality; or turning a ferry boat around by sheer force of will – she was 5 minutes late, of course, but they came back to the dock just for her. In fact, she lived a life in defiance of clocks and schedules of all kinds. She always arrived on her own schedule and in her own time – at her son’s wedding she was up all night folding origami cranes – well past the deadline, and on one memorable occasion she was a day late for Christmas celebrations. The world bent to her, and not the other way ‘round.
She played hostess to a parade of visitors to her vacation home every summer, soaking in every minute of good times with friends and family, both. She was game for anything and everything: trips to the beach, a late night playing Cards Against Humanity with the kids…and at every opportunity, she would get out on the water with her son, catch the wind, and listen to the waves. She cherished her time with family and friends, and welcomed all into her home with love and laughter.
You could always find Elsa with her dogs (Rhodesian Ridgebacks, every one of them). The breed is renowned for their good looks and stubborn nature (ring a bell?). Unsurprisingly, Elsa took the most stubborn dog breed she could possibly find and then bent the poor dogs’ will to perform in agility competitions with her: run through tunnels, up and down ramps, over jumps, through weave poles. And yes, they won ribbons in competition, crates full of them. Of course they did.
If you think some of these tales are overblown, enjoy this one: a state trooper pulled over in the middle of the night, and found her huddled in the back of her broken down car in Connecticut with one of her dogs. She was freezing, and two days late to her second grandson’s birth. The officer told her, “I can take you to the station to warm up, but the dog stays here.” An argument ensued. By now, you should not be surprised to know that she and her dog both ended up in the warm lobby of the police station, waiting for her daughter-in-law to pick her up. She out-stubborned a state trooper on Thanksgiving day. Good times.
After a stroke in November of 2015, Elsa was, for a period of time, only able to say two things: “I love you” and a naughty word that rhymes with “duck”. It turns out that she could accomplish and express a great deal with that simplified vocabulary. However, she missed being able to adopt her usual role of Overseer, with detailed instructions on how she wanted everything – from loading the car to making dinner – done properly. Through hard work and sheer force of will, she managed to regain most of her speech and was able to resume her role as queen of the household and general boss of everyone (well, mostly Bill) for the last few years of her life. And oh, how we will miss all of that. If you want to remember Elsa, pick up the phone and call someone you haven’t spoken to in a long time. Tell them what they mean to you. Say both “I love you” and a naughty word. Laugh together. Remember that life is precious and beautiful.
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dear David ,
Dear David,
I hope you can still get this, sorry I am so late but, I am just getting over covid. I am so sorry for the loss of your mom. I knew your mom for a long time. I stood up for your mom at her wedding as her maid of honor. We go back many years! I remember her practicing the piano every day before she went to school. MY husband and I went to visit her at Fisher’s Island and had a great time. EVery year she would bake the plum cake and it was so delicious . She was a women of many talents and I will dearly miss her. Love, Mary Heminway
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I am just reading this warm and touching eulogy to my loving friend, Elsa, and cannot aid much more. Am in France travelling and was upset to hear of Elsa’s death. Shall always remember her upbeat nature and when we were at nursing school listening to Elsa performing on the piano in our spacious lounge. I am so grateful I got to spend an enjoyable few days on Fisher’s with Elsa and Bill recently. Here’s to a great lady.
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Ms. Elsa has been my neighbor for more than 30 years, ever since I was a young kid. She gave me my very first job as a kid dog sitting and introduced me to the term “super duper pooper scooper,” which I use to this day! I grew up seeing her train all her beautiful Rhodesian Ridgebacks to run circles around her training course, while my puppy failed puppy obedience school. I loved seeing her out and about on the street, and teaching me how to take care of and train my dog.
I have many memories of Ms. Elsa, including the delicious plum tarts she used to make for us! I’m grateful to have know her all these years, and that my daughter in recent years was able to get to know her too. We will miss her greatly.
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Elsa was our neighbor up the hill for many decades. She always had a kind word to say and was always excited to see us. She usually had a dog with her, or she was looking for one that wandered off. Her hedge was our home run fence when we played wiffleball in the circle at the end of the road. I was amazed to see the agility course she had in the woods to practice with her dog. When my father passed away, we had a get together at my parent’s home on Heather Lane and Elsa came. It ends up that she knew my mother in law from working at the detox at Grasslands (Westchester Medical Center now). They had a wonderful time catching up with each other. Small world! I’ll always appreciate how good she was to my Mom after my father passed away. She was a special person and I will never forget her.
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I have known Elsa all my life. In fact her Mom, Paula, would babysit us Heminway kid’s when we were small.. I always appreciated Elsa and her dogs and the stories that came with each one. She would stop by my mother’s house to say Hi and always have one of her dogs with her. I often ran into her at Tod’s Point Greenwich in the winter when the dogs where allowed to run on the beach. She always had a smile on her face, a story to tell, loved life to the fullest. God Bless Elsa…… A real sweet person and will be missed..
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Elsa was a special and unique woman. I had the pleasure of talking with her on Fishers Island whenever I visited the Rivers family there. I was so impressed with her energy and power, despite her petite body. She had so much enthusiasm for many things, including going out on Long Island Sound in the power boat. She would stand in the bow and face the winds with such strength. I remember us talking about the large two-story-high windows of her home and my learning the word “annealed” which she wrote right on the 2×4 framing with a big black marker so that she wouldn’t forget the correct nomenclature. We also talked about her beloved Rhodesian Ridgeback dog and she was proud to show us what the dog could do. And oh, that megawatt smile and the flaming red hair (especially after a wet-and-wild powerboat ride)! We will surely miss her. Our sincerest condolences to Bill and the entire Rivers family.
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Thank you very much for Elsa’s story ,Our neighbor up the street the past decade.
John and Mary Ski
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Elsa was so genuinely warm and generous to my son Nate and I. We will always remember her sharp wit and humor. Our condolences to Bill and David and families. Bill you were doubly lucky to fall in love again and that it was Elsa.
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I have had a lot of neighbors in the various houses that I have lived in. None of them could hold a candle to Elsa. She was a treasure, I shall miss her smile and her humor.
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An early remembrance of Elsa way back in the 60’s probably, was her coming to the Byram Shore Boat ramp with some friends car boat and taking it into the harbor. That was quite some site.
A more recent memory was her whizzing past me on the Merritt in a clown car. Mind you I was going 70 already. I had to call my mom and ask if Elsa owned a Honda Fit? Yep. That was her.
Elsa, may you have more fun in heaven than you did here!
Love,
Mark
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Great Memories from our younger years on Hobart Avenue with Elsa playing the piano. She was talented in many ways. Elsa never forgot my birthday. Just spoke to her on 8/27/21. It was great to hear from her. My deepest condolences to Dave and Bill. May Elsa RIP
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Though I only met Elsa a few times, I have a vivid memory of her visiting our home in Pleasantville when I was a child. She tried to convince my mom (on my behalf) that it was pointless to make my bed as it was just going to get messed up that night again 😂. I always loved hearing the stories my dad would share with me and was so thankful that Elsa and my dad stayed in touch right up until just before he passed in June. She always brought a smile to his face. My condolences to her friends and family ❤
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My family is so grateful to have known and spent time on Fishers with Elsa and her loved ones. Every year she would greet us with her warm hugs and huge, beautiful smile. Although she is not physically here with us anymore I have no doubt she is looking down upon all those she loved and her spirit will continue to be felt on Fishers and beyond.
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My deepest condolences to Bill and Dave and your families. Although it is been many years since I last saw Elsa, I have many vivid memories of her as described in this memorial post. She was a hoot. A wonderful spirit. She will be missed.
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When I visited Elsa on Fishers Island one summer day expecting to talk about food and our kids., I heard the most beautiful piano music, which I assumed was coming from a radio or a recording.. To my surprise, it was Elsa playing.. she had never told me how important the piano was to her and how she practiced. The private concert she gave me of The Goldberg Variations was a gift from Elsa.
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Eileen, 35 years. Marriage. Blessed with David then Alexa. Life: Excitement, pain, separation, loss, resolution. Biotech financial world collapsed. Eileen and Nobel laureate desperate to find a cure for HIV plagueing the world. Money gone. Florida…cheap 2009. Kids to their New York world Eileen into hospital. Simple muscle surgery. Scalpel pierces colon. Hospital 49 days. Death 2013. Pain, tears, love lost, suffering. I lived in Dante’s hell. The children? Nerves of steel.
Decades passed. But ONE INDELIBLE MARK had pierced my soul forever. A woman I met in 1973 whom I never forgot. My pain was to tell Elsa Rivers that I had met and would marry Eileen and I asked her forgiveness.
Late October 8, 2013. Opera. Verdi’s MacBeth. Leather, parchment sign-in pages. Thumbing thru…ELSA RIVERS leaped off a page. Stunned. Breathless. “Can’t be her”…Married? Lives in Florida…drove home. She began to consume all of me.
October 9. I called 914-592-XXXX. The only number I never forgot. Tape answer. Left my “Bill Lynch” and #. 15 minutes later a ring. I instantly recognized ” Bill…is that you?”. One hour. Next day…hours…and every day. November 8, dogs in the car, and 16 hours and 1,058 miles stopping only for gas down her driveway looking at her smile, braked, jumped out, ran to her our arms wrapped breathless, tight, and we both cried. Our love was always a volcano within inches of the surface, or that I had just run out to pick up a loaf of bread….either way… it took 40 years…
Our love is forever Elsa.
David & Nicole, Alexa’s & Steve and Harrison
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I knew Sa almost my entire life and she was a part of
my family in every way but blood. Over the years she has always been supportive of everything I have done, being a cheerleader and providing encouragement. I always loved her unique, upbeat reactions to everything she was a part of. I remember how at my wedding she exclaimed “Hooray for the Mr. and Mrs.” as my husband and I came down the aisle after our ceremony.
Many hugs and condolences to David and Bill as this is such a tremendous loss.
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Bill, David and family… our deepest condolences to you. I have many memories of Elsa on Fishers as a summer neighbor. She will be missed here on Fishers ❤️
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Elsa was my dearest friend for 45 years. My world will be a dimmer and less vibrant place now that she is gone. There are so many memories. The two of us ferrying boxes and boxes of my stuff in our cars up a flight of stairs on a hot July afternoon when I moved, newly single and now on my own. How she would listen to me, sometimes for hours at yet another of my romantic disasters. Watching fireworks. Going to concerts. In recent years, now joined by Bill, ushering in the New Year. I will always love her.
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Elsa was one of the most loving, generous, and fiery people I’ve had the honor of knowing. She welcomed us with open arms as if we were her own children. We are blessed to have been able to spend the last 8 years with her in our lives and will miss her dearly. We love you Elsa 💕💕
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I loved reading about Elsa’s life and wish I’d seen her more that a couple of times on Fisher’s island. I remember her as gracious and smiling. David and Hagan and family, I hope that you can cherish her memories for years to come.
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I feel so fortunate to have been so warmly welcomed into Elsa’s home on the island where I had the opportunity to witness her incredible love for her family. I admired her ability to know her own mind and express it – swears and all! She literally glowed when surrounded by family and welcomed friends in as if we were family. I’m truly grateful.
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A wacky beautiful and lovely woman.
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Elsa became a part of our lives about 18 years ago. She took it upon herself to start a relationship and connection with me and my family. She always remembered the boys birthdays and would send a hand made card ( for years and years!). She was very thoughtful-
It was just a few weeks ago that I spoke to Elsa- she reiterated how we needed to stay healthy and safe… genuinely concerned with our well being. She will be missed.
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Elsa always treated me as the daughter she never had. After my own mother died, she redoubled her efforts to be there for me in every way. For a list-making, hyper-organized, rule-follower like myself, she could be maddening … and yet I loved her with all my heart. There is a great gap in our lives now, but I will carry her energy and her love with me for as long as I live..
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Elsa was like a sister to me. What a Grand lady she was
I will miss her so much. I feel like I lost part of me. I will truly miss her. Every Day.
Elsa. I love you. ❤️💕