from friends, via email

I'm acting solely as a conduit to the blog, not an editor, so I'm posting these things verbatim. Thus: from friends, via email: 

Hi Nancy, I am so very sad for the departure of Avi, I hope our shared memories will help you recall some pleasant times.
I was around 23 years of age and the job at the South African Consulate that gave me my visa to stay in the USA had conveyed long ago that they would not countenance anyone leaving early on Fridays for the sake of Jewish orthodoxy. I lived in Queens and so needed a place for Shabbat and you and Avi were so very kind as to extend your hospitality.
You were a cute little dark haired ball of energy and Avi was kind and intellectual, taking turns with you at holding the sweetest baby girl. You explained that you'd taken upon yourselves to learn the Parshat together every Shabbat, and while I don't even remember which Parshat, I do remember how impressed I was with the curiosity and insight you both demonstrated, and so I thought that this lovely tradition might be possible in my own home, that is if I were ever fortunate enough to meet a willing fellow.
Well, the waiter I met, Nathan, still discusses Parshat with me every Shabbat, and much later, even when I bumped into the wonderful Karkowskys, I never quite forgot that cute young hospitable couple.
It was at Chana Leah Schwartz's Sheva Brachos over a year ago that I found myself slightly inebriated and sitting next to a community member well known to myself and Nathan. Shir Hamalot was about to begin, and the fellow next to me - your Hubby Avi - mentioned that I was an Aussie and he remembers being taught a Shir Hamalot version sung to the melody of the Aussie theme song 'Waltzing Matilda' by another young Aussie years ago. He also remembered that she was a vinyl shod vegetarian.
Bingo!! So you and Avi were that wonderful kind couple! And you were still singing Shir Hamalot to Waltzing Matilda! And Nathan and I are still discussing the Parshat every Shabbat! And I saw you all the time and never noticed the similarities between you and the younger yous? I'm terrible with names and besides, every Jewish name ends with a Sky or an Itz. We also discussed our memories of a wonderful overweight pediatrician who died much too young.
I am so  very happy that Avi was sober enough to put it together that  evening, and that I personally got to thank him and tell him my memories, and now I have yet another chance to repeat them.

With much much love and thanks, with a blessing that you should enjoy the life ahead and the family you both have built, Helen(nee Bennett)Moskowitz)

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My general memories of Avi is of a happy individual always smiling, eager to be friendly , and to spread humor and joy.
In the above mentioned sheva brachot  he started telling me about the law firm Howie Cheatam & Howe. He also told me that he started out getting his PhD in Pharmacology at Mount Sinai Medical School where I am an alumnus. He got it under Dr. Marian Orlowski. I had rotated through his lab and new him to be a kind gentleman. I did not know anything about his biography until Avi filled in the lacuna. He was a partisan during the war, and subsequently married a non-Jewish girl. He apparently grew up frum with a yeshiva background. He told Avi " You'll never be able to learn as much gemara as I have forgotten".
I didn't know Avi very well. I wish I had known him better. This is unfortunately a statement that always comes too late.
It was good seeing you at the shiva seeing you strengthened by your enormous family and the true Bais Nehman that you and Avi built; a testament to both Avi's and your greatness.
May his memory always bring joy to those who remember him.
Nathan Moskowitz