From Elaine

I first knew Ira when he married Frankie and I fell for him immediately, so he must have had great patience to pay attention to a three-year-old, rather spoiled niece at such a time. Enough patience to go through a mock ceremony before the real thing, thus he called me his "first wife".

And although we were not close for many years, a certain affection remained and it was a pleasure to live close to him and Frankie when I lived in Cambridge in the late 60s/early 70s and could get to know them both as an adult.

Ira's essential sweetness and interest in the world and most particularly in others in it is what I best remember. His ability to face death without altering these interests and to remain loving and uncomplaining will always be an inspiration to me.