Helene always brightened the  room. She lived with passion, creativity and generosity and is remembered with love as the "HERO" she was amongst her family and friends.

OBITUARY

Helene Elizabeth Rosen Oppenheimer

Long time teacher and artist, Helene Elizabeth Rosen Oppenheimer (née Gilmore) died May 21, 2020 at the age of 67. Helene’s life was too short when she left this world, but she will be cherished by her family and friends.

Helene was born on August 20, 1952 to Clarence and Dorothy Gilmore (nee Kramer) in Fort Meade, Maryland. She grew up in Paso Robles, California, and attended a portion of her high school years in Frankfurt, Germany as an American exchange student. She complemented her high school education with a college degree in German Literature at the prestigious University of Heidelberg. Upon returning to the United States, Helene achieved her teaching credentials at San Jose State. Helene would become a long-time German and English teacher at Bellarmine College Preparatory (San Jose) and Mountain View High School as well. During the 1980s, she was actively involved in the antiwar movement. Helene traveled the world with student peace groups promoting friendship and cultural exchange between the United States and other countries.

After a debilitating car accident, Helene turned to sculpture and painting and built a home and art studio in Boulder Creek. She loved the redwood trees and streams of her new home. While living in the Santa Cruz studio, she met many fellow artists. Her friendship with a deaf man inspired her to incorporate sign language into her sculptures. Through a mutual friend, she met her future husband Michael, an American Sign Language interpreter teaching speech therapeutics in the St. Paul School District. She and Michael (along with their many black cats) would make their home in Woodbury, a suburb of the Twin Cities.

Helene continued her unique artwork which ranged from Jewish religious motifs to women of color expressing their messages of love in the American Sign Language. Her expressive style gained recognition and awards.

In 2006, the Rosen family returned to California and made their home in Agoura Hills. For years, Michael and Helene were actively involved with Temple Adat Elohim. Helene turned their backyard into a wildlife oasis which they enjoyed along with visits to the nearby beaches of Malibu.

Helene was preceded in death by her beloved grandparents, Helene and Fred Kramer (née Oppenheim), parents Clarence and Dorothy Gilmore, uncle and aunt Henry and Frances Kramer, uncle Steve Kramer, and sister-in-law, Dawn Capezio.

She is survived by her husband Michael Rosen, brothers Stephen (and Debra), Fred (and Sydney), and Michael Gilmore, sister Anne Gilmore Rawlings (and Kenneth), aunt Maria Kramer, nephew Jackson, nieces Rosalind, Corinne, Ashleigh, and Karina. And many dear cousins and friends. All of whom will miss her dearly.

Helene was passionate about social justice, nature, art, and spirituality, and is remembered with love as the "HERO" that she was. Friends are encouraged to visit the website GatheringUs.com for Helene Elizabeth Rosen Oppenheimer’s virtual memorial to add memories and photos of Helene. Her artwork may be viewed at claywisdom.com.