Eleanor Morgan Rodini

Eleanor Morgan Rodini of Madison, WI, passed away on July 26, 2023, at the age of 85.

 

Eleanor was born in Norman, OK, but left at the age of 16 to pursue her education at Abbott Academy, Radcliffe College, and the University of California - Berkeley, where she earned a Master’s Degree in Italian literature. In 1960, while a Fulbright Scholar in Italy, she met her future husband, Robert Rodini. They settled in Madison in 1965, and eventually she returned to school to earn a Master’s Degree in Library Science. For decades she served as a reference librarian at the UW’s Memorial Library, a fitting career for someone who had always loved to read. Eleanor’s greatest passion, however, was for flower gardening, and in retirement she volunteered at Olbrich Gardens and the UW Arboretum, and was an active member of numerous horticultural societies with whom she traveled locally and overseas. She also built a garden at her long-time family home on Adams Street so lush with flowers that it regularly stopped passers-by in their tracks to take a look. Through her countless other activities and interests (morning exercise at the Nat, knitting, book groups, world travel), Eleanor developed a deep connection to Madison and many enduring friendships.

 

Eleanor was preceded in death by Bob, her husband of 60 years, in May of this year. She is survived by her son, Mark; her daughter, Elizabeth, son-in-law, Charlie Rudin, and granddaughters, Sofia and Natalie Rudin; her brother and sister-in-law, Lawrence and Nancy Morgan; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. In lieu of flowers, remembrances in support of Olbrich Gardens are appreciated.

 

Elizabeth and Mark are planning a memorial to be held at a future date.