Leah E. Bachman

Leah E. Shaffron Bachman Middletown, RI - Leah E. Shaffron Bachman, 96, of 303 Valley Road, Middletown died serenely early Saturday morning at Newport Hospital surrounded by her loved ones. Formerly of Drexel Hill, PA, and Atlantic City, NJ. Mrs. Bachman moved to Newport in 1997 following the death of her beloved husband Paul to whom she had been married for 55 years. She brought along her sparkling smile, personal warmth, endless passion for life and fierce commitment to physical fitness.She was born in Philadelphia, PA on June 29, 1911, the daughter of the late Abraham and Ida Neer Shaffron. She was the oldest of four daughters. Her sisters Dorris Myerson, Kate Burnstein and Estelle Dabrow pre-deceased her. She met her husband in 1941 when he was the instructor of her calisthenics program. They were married in Anniston, AL on September 5, 1942 and were stationed in Dayton OH until the end of WWII. Together in 1945 they opened and developed the Lititz Recreation Center in Paul?s hometown of Lititz, PA. They moved to Drexel Hill PA, a suburb of Philadelphia, in 1947 where they lived until Paul?s death in 1997.Mrs. Bachman was a largely self-educated woman with boundless curiosity and enthusiasm for people, places and food. Although she had a successful career in management at Family Services Association of Philadelphia and a 17 year career at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania HUP she frequently identified her greatest ?accomplishments? as her two daughters, Anita Bachman Abrams, of North River, NY and Brenda Bachman, of Newport and her four grandchildren, Wendy Williams MacRoberts, Douglas Williams, Lauren Bachman-Streitfield and Nasia Bachman-Streitfield. She is survived by many nieces, nephews and friends who would unanimously identify ?Aunt Leah?s Chocolate Cake? as her greatest legacy. She was ahead of her time in recognizing the importance of exercise and fitness, doing the same routine Paul taught her and at least one hour of exercise everyday of her adult life. She relished her membership at the Newport Athletic Club for the friends that she made there and was a regular attendee well into her 96th year. She loved the theatre and travel and had a determination to learn and experience new things. A woman of great resilience, she demonstrated an openness for self-change and growth until her final moments.Her funeral and entombment will be held on Wednesday, November 21, 2007, at 10:00 a.m. in the chapel of Newport Memorial Park in Middletown. Calling hours will be held Tuesday, November 20, 2007, from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. in the Memorial Funeral Home. Memorial donations may be made to Visiting Nurse Services Hospice of Newport Bristol Counties, 1184 East Main Road, Portsmouth, RI, 02871.