In a cynical, gadget-driven world, authentic love is as rare as dinosaurs on Overland Avenue.

No dinosaurs prowled Overland on a sunny Sunday afternoon when Madeline Ehrlich, a model community patriot for the generations, was memorialized by her husband, three children and hundreds of her most valued friends.

Vets Auditorium was damp with tears, drenched in affection.

Best known as a massive influence and a determined local/national trailblazer in all four corners of Culver City education, she was ubiquitous in her adopted community.

She was loved in life and in death not only because of her multi-direction accomplishments that would have dwarfed and exhausted six people before attaining middle age, she was repeatedly saluted for an even rarer quality.

With less than a hiccup, she brilliantly looked past political and other differences with colleagues for the sake of achieving a common goal.

In crucial ways, she was distinct from the crowd of unforgivers.

Differences of opinion with her muscularly held Democratic beliefs were as important to Mrs. Ehrlich as a random breath drawn 20 years ago.

Sparking what would become a national concept, Mrs. Ehrlich is credited with revival of the dormant Spanish immersion program and novel introduction of Japanese immersion

Down to her unexpectedly rushed final days, Mrs. Ehrlich was difference-making. She led a weekly program to feed the homeless.

While the Ehrlich daughters Heidi and Amy served as articulately elegant mistresses-of-ceremonies with resounding reflections of their mother, Paul, Madeline’s always-present husband of 43 years, carved a heart-shaped tribute ribboned with love.

“There were so many aspects to Madeline,” he said while displaying a long-ago photo of her in a large wig and ballerina costume, a three-month experiment in the 1970s.

Madeline Visits the World

If Mrs. Ehrlich had lived in 1492, or if Columbus were walking the earth today, he might not have made the history books.  Mrs. and Mr. Ehrlich, as global tourists, ran earthly circles around Columbus. She rang up worldly miles that twinned her tall stack of accomplishments across Culver City.

Neither resembling nor making any concessions to her 75 bulging years of difference-making, a friend remarked yesterday to Mr. Ehrlich: “My wife was saying today that Madeline had seemed robust the last time you were at our home.”
“She looked healthy in early May,” Mr. Ehrlich said. “In April when she went to the doctor for her annual physical, she was fine.

“When we went to Chicago, though, in early May, she noticed her neck was a little swollen. Madeline figured she had a cold or virus.”

A diagnosis of lymphoma and leukemia shortly followed, ushering in her final two months.

In a celebration of life crammed with meaningful moments, Heidi O’Bra, Mrs. Ehrlich’s younger daughter, in the manner of David Letterman’s Top Ten moments, read a Top Ten list created by her husband Bryan, who was back in their Zambia, South Africa, home.

• 10 — Her sense of humanity
• 9 — Her sense of adventure
• 8 — Her attention to detail
• 7 — Her ability to look age in the face and give it a big, fat middle finger
• 6 — Her uncanny ability to make friends wherever she is
• 5 — She encouraged belief in others.
• 4 — Her involvement in community
• 3 – Generosity
• 2 – Kindness
• 1 – Giving birth to Heidi.

Heidi said that, at the end, her mother told Bryan this precious list was the one document she wanted to take with her.

For all of his mother’s massive community involvement and accomplishments, said son Steven Ehrlich, when he and his sisters were growing up, their mother was singularly focused on being a loving, caring, attentive mother.

Over the years, Paul and Madeline took in 25 foster children, the last being the son and daughter of a nephew who died suddenly 2½ years ago.

Austin, the son, was shimmeringly eloquent.

He recalled how disconnected he felt when he and his sister arrived at Aunt Madeline’s and Uncle Paul’s.
“I was confused and shattered,” he said. “Aunt Madeline gave me hope. She taught me how a person can make a mark, how and why you should leave a place better than you found it.

“I never would have been the person I am without Aunt Madeline.

“I want to make the world better – just the way she did.

“Aunt Madeline, I love you.”