Paula S. Kaufman, 67

BRISTOL, R.I. – Paula S. Kaufman passed away at home Dec. 21, after a prolonged struggle with cancer. Survived by her husband, Gerhard Leib, of Bristol, and sister, Marsha Kwicinski, Royal Oak, Mich.,  she was the daughter of the late Irving and Evelyn (Murstein) Kaufman, and twin sister of the late Roberta Kaufman.

Born in Newton, Mass., she grew up in Boston, attended many universities and had multiple graduate degrees in diverse subjects. She was a deeply religious lamed-vavnik, observing Orthodox halacha and custom, while also a modern, liberated, liberal and fashionable lady. She was a modest, unpretentious person who saw good in all people and easily made friends from all walks of life. She treated others as equals and strove to make them comfortable and not feel inadequate. She never spoke about her own educational or professional accomplishments.  She advocated for apprenticeship programs and for learning through hands-on experience to help those not being served by an outmoded, overly academic, dysfunctional and expensive college system.

She was a very kind and compassionate person, who dedicated four years to serving as a medical advocate for her mother, staying with her day and night in the hospital. She did the same for her fur-babies, both rescued from a life of misery.

In the process, she acquired extensive medical knowledge, which she shared, to help others. A fearless, outspoken and deeply honest person, she fought hard to get quality care for her loved ones (and to make sure the right thing was done), even if that entailed confronting doctors, nurses, chief medical officers, or CEOs of major hospitals (or her husband).  In that and numerous other ways, she helped those who knew her to become better people.  Thank you.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the New England Rabbinical College, 262 Blackstone Blvd, Providence, R.I. 02906  or  to American Fox Terrier Rescue, Inc., 8738 Prestwick Parkway, Brooklyn Park, Minn. 55443, in honor of her beloved wire-haired fox terriers, Oliver and Lilly.