Rolly King Kohansky passed away in November 2012, and a large space was left in my life and in the lives of those who knew her. It’s not easy to say goodbye, as she and I were friends for 40 years.

It’s not difficult to describe Rolly – she was larger than life. When she entered a room you knew it! Her presence was vibrant, sassy and sharp. Always beautifully dressed, coiffed and turned out, she was the life of any gathering, party or event – especially those she created, like her annual chili parties, picking up the nickname: “the hostess with the moistest”!

Rolly came to Israel from Montreal though she could easily have gone to New York since her father was an American citizen and one of her brothers had served in the U.S. Air Force. There, she could have mixed with that intrepid breed of brash, fast talking, wisecracking female writers and journalists. Instead, though she was from a fiercely secular and non-Zionist background, knowing nothing of the mores and culture of Israel, and with two young children in tow, she made aliyah. Without a word of Hebrew she broke through the male chauvinist advertising world of Israeli culture in the 1970s and 80s - and succeeded.

She had a passion for the arts, especially film and drama, was intelligent, outspoken and highly cultured, often using her biting wit and rich ability with language to paint a vibrant picture of her surroundings. An avid reader, Rolly was always well-informed regarding local as well as national and international news and was herself a prolific writer.  She was devoted to her work on the editorial board of ESRA MAGAZINE and her articles and book reviews were always of the highest standard.

But most of all, she was a unique, thoughtful and good friend. Whenever she was needed, she was there. I’ll miss you, dear friend, as will we all.

Rolly, the quintessential copy writer and bon vivant, was an exciting member of our editorial board. She would breeze into our meetings, filling the room with her vitality and presence, and enriching all the discussions. She wrote wonderful articles - on people, lectures, book reviews, moving to a retirement home – which one read eagerly and intently, not wanting to put them down. The blurbs she composed for the articles on our website were excellent, brief and sharp, capturing the essence of the story. Rolly, your going has left us poorer and we are missing you. Merle Guttmann