By Cailin Acosta
SAN DIEGO – Louis Cy Towne, 85, a medical doctor, cantor, travel enthusiast, and opera lover, bequeathed those great loves to his three children, his youngest daughter commented Tuesday at well-attended graveside services at the Home of Peace Cemetery.
At a service officiated by Rabbi Scott Meltzer of Ohr Shalom Synagogue, the eulogy delivered by Danielle Towne brought smiles through the tears of his Louis Towne’s many well-wishers. Over a long career, he had filled in as a cantor and spiritual leader at numerous area synagogues.
Danielle said: “My Dad was passionate about many things and opened the world to us. His own passion for knowledge, education, travel, music, and languages were shared with us. He planted little seeds by exposing us to his own lifelong passion for the arts, music and travel.
“I thought I would tell you a little bit of those passions and how he shared them with us,” she continued. “Most of you know about his passion for singing – and how beautiful his voice was. My favorite memories are of him dressed in his white Kittel and priestly Kippah for the High Holy days, with eyes closed swaying with such passion and joy that became contagious.
“He sang all the time and most of it was magical. Our neighbors would tell us that they loved their daily alarm clock of hearing him sing in the shower at 6 a.m. and we loved it when at 10 p.m. he would proudly try to hit a high “C” note. We did our own singing of ‘Mom make him stop!’
“He loved all types of music and was always up to experiencing new things. When I asked to go to my first concert, he jumped at the chance and found himself at Madonna’s first tour; If that wasn’t enough, he was then informed we had tickets to go to an all-day festival in Tijuana. He was always game to try new things.
“Dad loved Opera and he instilled the Magic of Opera in all three of us. He made it fun by selecting operas he thought that we each would like, read the libretto with us to make sure we understood and took us out to eat wearing our fancy dresses. Then he would place a box of M&M’s in our hands as the curtains went up.
“If that magic wasn’t enough, his skills as a doctor were put to use when the call came out for ‘Is there a doctor in the house?’ He raced back and afterwards we were allowed to go backstage and meet the performers.
“My love of Opera is still incredibly strong – despite a glitch when he prepped me for Madame Butterfly who he described as a very young beautiful woman. My 7-year-old eyes didn’t understand why Cio-Cio-San was not as expected and ever since was not a Madame Butterfly fan.
“However, two months ago, the last Opera of the Season was Madame Butterfly, and my faith was restored. And Dad was right once again!
“In fact, the morning that Dad went to the hospital, the most beautiful butterflies flew around me in my garden and I thought of Dad and knew that he would always be around teaching and encouraging all three of us.
“Dad loved Languages and was always excited about learning a new one and putting it to use. He spoke varying degrees of Hebrew, Spanish, German, Yiddish, Russian, Hindi, Italian and many more. He would initiate conversations with passersby and would soon befriend them.
“Dad gave us the world literally. Travel was one of his and our favorite things to do as a family. That passion is strong in all of us. We learned about art, languages, cultures and how to appreciate and embrace differences in people. Each of us have studied and worked abroad because of those experiences.
“Dad loved meeting people who soon became his friends. We were so fortunate to take so many amazing family trips together. Including exploring in India and hearing the bell’s ring at St. Basil’s in Moscow for the first time in many decades, him leading services in the Old-New Shul in Prague. Showing up with the chief Rabbi of Israel at our Warsaw hotel lobby and him running down the street in Jordan in a bath towel calling for me to bring him a camera and so much more.
“He would always write meticulous summaries of what we did. Somehow, he omitted some of the most infamous events which included him jumping into the cold waterfall at Ein Gedi, getting locked in the bath house in Caesaria.
“Dad’s skills at driving in England were based on pointing an imaginary jousting lance out the window to remind him which side to drive on. Sadly, for the side mirror and one frightened bicyclist he needed a bit more practice. Ever since we would tease him with a whooshing sound and hand movement, we would never explain – now Dad we are telling you.
“His greatest passion was loving us and we each have our own special connections. Tamar’s include medicine, Elana’s Judaism, and mine opera and travel.
“We each had our own ways of expressing love. For me, it was silly dances, making funny faces with each other, and a forehead kissing ritual that always brought a smile to his face and mine. I would tell stories and sing to him and at the very end my last words to him were that I loved him.
“I know that we will all share more stories with you about him and how we love him and were loved by him.”
Rabbi Meltzer commented to Towne’s wife Ruth and daughters Danielle Towne, Dr. Tamar Weissler, and Elana Markus that each day the sun will rise and set as before, but the days will be permeated by Lou Towne’s spirit.
The rabbi commented on the many generations of San Diego represented at the funeral. Young children and very elderly friends and admirers of the Townes stood side-by-side at the Jewish cemetery. Meltzer quoted Towne that the greatest achievement in life was his family and the complete joy he had as a grandfather.
Phillip Markus spoke on behalf of Towne’s grandchildren and remembered that Towne always had loving words toward them.
Rabbi Matthew Earne of Congregation Beth Am led the traditional reading of Psalm 23, which begins “Yea, though I walk through the valley of death.” He commented that Towne was a great Torah teacher.
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Cailin Acosta is the assistant editor of the San Diego Jewish World.
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My condolences on the passing of Lou. As undergraduates at UCLA, we were fraternity brothers at AEPi. Lou went away to medical school, while I went to Law School. We did not meet again until we were both looking to buy homes in a new tract at the top of Del Cerro. We met while we were walking through the model home. My Mother was with me at the model home, and she immediately recognized Lou, because my Mother had been a chaperone for certain events at AEPi.
I often heard many good things about Lou. I know that his life was a blessing to his wife, his children, his family, friends, and patients.
Cailin, beautiful. You covered the funeral with the heartfelt words that were well received. We knew Lou for over 50 years. He actually tutored two of our daughters for their Bat Mitzvahs. He will be missed.
Wow, that is amazing. He will be greatly missed and was one of a kind.