Roxy Faith Applebaum, 66, of San Jose passed away peacefully Wednesday, August 14th, 2013. She was born to the late Albert & Esther Orenstein, April 2nd, 1947 in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Roxy graduated from St. Louis Park High School in 1965 and received a two-year AA degree from the University of Minnesota.
She married, former husband, Richard Rosenberg in 1969, and gave birth to two wonderful sons, Robert and Evan Rosenberg.
In 1978, she married Michael Applebaum who had three lovely daughters from a previous marriage: Amy, Laura, and Leslie Applebaum.
Family meant everything to Roxy and Michael and, together, they created a vibrant and successful blended family.
Her son Robert went on to marry Rachel Brown. They had two beautiful daughters, Reese & Riley Rosenberg.
Roxy took being a “Grammy” to her granddaughters very seriously. She was actively involved in their daily activities, schooling and social life.
Roxy had two careers. She owned Aloha Roller Palace/Roxy’s Roller Rink with her partner, Roxy Sax (Michael Applebaum’s sister). Roxy developed many wonderful programs that parents and children could share including Rollersize, which appeared on national television. As family was very important to Roxy, on any one day at work, her children would be manning the snack bar, dj’ing, skate guarding, and running the pro & skate shop.
She was also a trainer & fragrance representative for the Estee Lauder Company where she developed many promotional & marketing techniques still being utilized today.
Roxy was a tireless worker who spent many hours raising money for many organizations including: American Cancer Society, Leukemia/Lymphoma Society and Susan G. Komen Foundation as well as local charities like Sacred Heart, Jewish Family Services and Second Harvest. She was also actively involved in supporting Yavneh Day School.
Her daughter Amy Applebaum married Matthew Fine and they had a beautiful baby, Michaela, 7 months ago. Her daughter Leslie, married Philip Marzullo and they had a beautiful baby, Kendall, 6 months ago. Unfortunately, her dream of being a Grammy to her two new grandchildren was cut short.
Everyone knew Roxy as, ROXY – her force never requiring a last name. She was an inspiration to others who were afflicted with medical conditions and often spoke to them for hours, helping to make their health journey easier. Everyone who entered Roxy’s life was a better person for the experience. She will be missed.
Roxy is also survived by her beloved sister, Sheila Locketz and children Marc Gittleman and Ellen Noll, as well as sister-in-law, Roxy Sax, mother to Adam and Mandy.
Donations can be made in Roxy's memory to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
http://www.lls.org/#/waystohelp/donate/
May her memory be a blessing.
Tributes
Leave a tributeYesterday, your birthday was a happy day for me. My memory of you is always there and my love for you will never die. This month I will be 79 years old. Can you believe it!
I know you wanted me to be happy as you told me many times. I have finally found that happiness with a wonderful woman named Gloria. I know you would just love her. She is very much like you in so many ways. I'm sure that is why I was attracted to her. She is kind and thoughtful, she is passionate and caring about people and causes like you were and she has a great laugh like you. She even laughs at my craziness as you did.
Rest in Peace,
Mickey Honey
I hope you’re at peace. I know you’ll be proud of me. I started a new business… What else is new! Amy, Laura, Matt(Amy’s husband) and myself started a new business and it is doing well. Working every day keeps my sanity and gives me some meaning of life. Without you that’s really important. I miss you as much as I ever and love you as much as ever.
Love you madly,
Mickey Honey
Love your guts, xoxox Rachel
I’m thinking of you today. It’s kind of a tough time in the world right now. We have an awful disease going around affecting the whole world. I’m staying at home so I don’t get the virus.
You would be happy to hear that Amy, Matt and Laura are living with me so I am not lonely. We are all in business together at my new company (thats right. I did it again!). Also living with me is Amy’s daughter Michaela. You would love her so much...what an amazing child. You met her once when she was just a baby.
Rob, Evan, Rachel and the girls are all doing great. I get to see the boys almost every day at work. They have a successful business that keeps them busy. Reese is in college (can you believe)! Riley is a junior in High school and works as a gymnastics coach. Rachel is her usual wonderful self. We talk often.
I know I’m supposed to be strong, but right now my tears are flowing because I miss you so much. I think I would give up everything for just a little more time with you.
Love,
Mickey Honey
Love your guts.
I want to be happy today, but all I can do is cry. It should be easier, but I still miss you terribly. You were my life and it’s lonely without you. I’m trying hard to be everything you wanted me to be. We have the most incredible granddaughter Aela. She is such a joy. You would just go crazy!
We now have a family business. Laura, Amy and Matt have joined the company. Leslie is living in Chicago now, but would like to move to a warmer place...can’t blame her for that.
Reese just turned 18 and Riley is driving. Can you believe it! Rob and Evan are both doing well. Their business is thriving. Rachel is so wonderful. She cares about this family so much and I know she misses you.
I love you so much!!
Mickey Honey
It’s your birthday today. You are officially an “old lady”! I have a nice surprise for your birthday. Your best friend Micki is joining you. I know how much you loved her. Now you can be together forever. Her funeral is tomorrow and I’ll probably cry (surprise), but I know she will be with her best friend to help her.
I miss you so much. You are and always have been the love of my life!!
With love,
Mickey Honey
You made me promise before you died that I would continue my life and find a new companion. I have tried, but you’re a hard act to follow!
So I’m still working. What a shocker, huh? It keeps me busy and I enjoy it. Have a wonderful day, my sweet one!! I’m thinking of you!
Yours always,
Mickey Honey
I am thinking of you today and my heart is heavy. It just never seems to get easier. How do you replace in your heart that one person who was your heart? Your memory stays with me forever. The family you raised prosper. Your two beloved grandchildren Reese and Riley are both beautiful and smart young ladies. You would be so proud! You have three others that you have not met, Aela. Kendall and Jake, but they all have your spirit. We all miss you. Please help me dry my tears!
Yours forever,
Mickey Honey
Your Husband, best friend and greatest admirer...Love,
Mickey Honey
Roxy and I are blessed with five wonderful children, Amy, Rob, Laura, Evan and Leslie and four grandchildren, Reese, Riley, Aela and Kendall. As if that wasn’t enough blessing for one person, I have Reese and Riley’s incredible Mom Rachel and two amazing sons-in-law, Kendall’s Dad Phil and Aela’s Dad Matt. Before she passed, Roxy was able to see the two babies, Aela and Kendall. I know it brought her much joy. All of my children insisted on being here to support me, but I said no. They were all there for Roxy and me during Roxy's long fight. They were at my side when Roxy took her last breath and they held me and comforted me when I was beside myself. They were always there when I needed them, but today I have wonderful friends around me and that's what I needed now.
Rich Rosenberg and his beautiful wife Micki are here today. 36 years ago, I broke Ritchie's heart when his boys were shipped off to California with their mother Roxy to start a new life. Roxy and I lived with that guilt all these years. I can only hope that he knows they were raised in a loving home. They always knew who their dad was and Roxy and I tried hard to include Richie in every important event and give him his rightful place as Rob and Evans father. He has his new family with Micki and his daughter Aaron who just got married...congratulations!
The 1st time I saw Roxy she took my breath away. It was Feb. 14th, 1962.and we had been fixed up by mutual friends. I knocked on the door, she opened it up and I saw the most beautiful girl I had ever seen. I'm sure I looked like a deer caught in headlights!
Later, I asked her to go to my senior prom. She wore a beautiful blue flowered party dress when I picked her up. She took my breath away. When we got married at our Rabbi’s house and I saw her standing there with loving eyes locked to mine, she took my breath away. The first time I came home from work and she greeted me at the door looking like an angel, she took my breath away.
I had Roxy for 35 years. Walking beside her, I felt like a king. The final day of her life, when she lay there ...so frail, so small, so beautiful, she took my breath away. And when she took her last breath, she took my heart away.
Most of you know her as a larger than life personality filled with life and joy who cried at movies and TV commercials, laughed at my crazy jokes. But underneath that large personality was a kind, caring sensitive woman who was a great friend to all who knew her, a wonderful and loving mother and my best friend. She had a way of making everything in life, no matter how ordinary, a wonderful story and adventure. She would tell me stories of her day and make a trip to the grocery store seem like the adventure of a lifetime.
She loved her family. When anyone needed something, she came through. She never turned away a friend. If you were in need of comforting or just someone to help out, Roxy was always there. When Micki’s mom died, Roxy was on the next plane. You did not have to ask her she just did it. Her whole life is filled with stories like that.
She survived breast cancer and made a commitment to help others get through those difficult times. She spent hours on the phone helping strangers get through the ordeals of breast cancer. She gave of herself and her time freely and willingly. Whether it was convenient or not never mattered. She felt that it was a mitzvah if she could help others. Her parents lived at our house for three years. They were both old and sick. Never was there a mention of rest homes. She took care of them without a complaint though I know it was incredibly hard on her both physically and emotionally.
Co-workers who were short on rent money or could not afford to fix their cars came to Roxy for help. She never said no. Sometimes they paid her back and sometimes not. I would ask her why she would lend money to someone who did not pay her back. She said simply, "because they needed it more than I did,"
And what a courageous woman! No matter how sick she was, she always thought of other’s well- being first.
My wonderful and dear friend Micki came to see Roxy during her illness, but Roxy was mostly in a coma. When she finally awoke and I told her that Micki was here all week to see her and comfort her, Roxy wanted to be sure that I had taken Micki out and had some fun! When our friend Marilyn came out to visit Roxy, she was a little better and the two of them got to talk about old times. Again Roxy wanted to be sure I showed her a good time.
When Roxy's sister Sheila's husband Joel died, Roxy insisted that I go to Mpls to help Sheila. I told her it was out of the question. I needed to stay with her. Roxy said Sheila and Joel have both come out here many times and Joel was sick too, but he still came and helped me. Joel was your friend and Sheila needs your help. I will be just fine. You must go...no questions! Roxy was so sick, but helping Sheila was the most important thing.
Roxy taught me more about being a righteous person than anyone else in my life. The day she died, I made a promise to her that I would live my life in a way that would make her proud. I pray I can live up to that.
Roxy and I shared a great love story. She was my soul-mate. She never gave up until her last breath. And to the end, she took my breath away.
Thinking of you often...always in our hearts. Love you and miss you.
In sickness and in health...your marriage epitomized what love is all about. It is a blessing to have known you both.
Susan Golovin
Jewish chaplaincy volunteer
Roxy...one word. Love it! So true.
You will always live in our memories.
Sharon Lin
Leave a Tribute
Yesterday, your birthday was a happy day for me. My memory of you is always there and my love for you will never die. This month I will be 79 years old. Can you believe it!
I know you wanted me to be happy as you told me many times. I have finally found that happiness with a wonderful woman named Gloria. I know you would just love her. She is very much like you in so many ways. I'm sure that is why I was attracted to her. She is kind and thoughtful, she is passionate and caring about people and causes like you were and she has a great laugh like you. She even laughs at my craziness as you did.
Rest in Peace,
Mickey Honey
I hope you’re at peace. I know you’ll be proud of me. I started a new business… What else is new! Amy, Laura, Matt(Amy’s husband) and myself started a new business and it is doing well. Working every day keeps my sanity and gives me some meaning of life. Without you that’s really important. I miss you as much as I ever and love you as much as ever.
Love you madly,
Mickey Honey
Glamour Aunt
Of course, one of the two most glamorous grande dammes in the world were my Grandma Francis, and Roxys' Mother, Grandma Esther.
My mother was a very down to earth, loving, caretaking and very ...busy lady as we grew up. A different story. A bad time.
Aunt Roxy became my glamour muse. She gave me my first ever nail set. I remember it....a plastic zippy case, soft plastic triangular shape. Four colors, files, cuticle sticks, and of course, the all important shine coat. Back then it took an hour to dry. And boy, did I use the hell out of those things. That started my love of makeup and nail colors, I never got the hang of looking amazingly "put together", that everyone in my family, from my Grandma Fran, to my mom, to my brother(!), have, but she inspired me to aspire to it. See what I did there.
She was stern, loving, beautiful, and made an amazing intro into a blended family that seemed (from the outside) to work pretty darn quickly. Her babies, Snickers, and baby ruth, little yappy dogs, she loved them to death. She fed (no joke) 20-30 outddoor, feral cats. She didn't just feed them though. She also trap and released them I believe. Trap, snip snip at vet, day in the garage I assume for safety, and out they go. No more babies. She loved animals the way I do. But she loved people just as much.
She was there, when my mom went through the bad times in our family. She played an important part in that confusing, horrifying growing up a girl time that I had. Having 3 gorgeous cousins wasn't great on my self esteem, but she helped.
We've made it through a week. My candle actually burned out on its own this morning. Seven days from one battery assistsed wax candle.
La'chaim
Cool Mom
I'll always remember Roxy as The Cool Mom. I first met her in the mid 80's when I became friends with Rob.
At that time, Rob and I (and most all our friends) had the long hair and dressed in our version of the then current Heavy Metal fashion. Anyone who remembers how Rob looked/dressed in those days, knows that it was a "style" that most parents would have frowned upon. Roxy however, not only condoned it, but actually assisted Rob with his "look", by buying him some of this attire. She would bring him home a pair of wild pink socks that somehow went perfectly with his red wrestling shoes, fringe leather jacket and skull pants.
While the rest of us were having to sneak outta the house to avoid the inevitable "you're not going out like that" comments from our folks, Rob's Mom was helping him color coordinate his hair-metal outfit!
Roxy once said to me, "Robbie is special, so it makes sense that he should look different". She loved her kids unconditionally and always made me feel like part of the family as well. Though I did not get to see Roxy that often in the past couple years, there was certainly a time where she was like a second Mom to me. A Cool Mom.
R.I.P. Roxy Applebaum!!!