Irene Ruth Wilkenfeld

February 27, 1945 - February 29, 2004

This page is dedicated to Irene Ruth Wilkenfeld. Those who loved her best recognized that she never realized what a difference she made in her short lifetime. It is our hope that somehow the contents of this page will reach her, and she will finally know how important her life's work truly was.

If you would like to add your comments to this page, please email Irene's daughter, Missi Patterson.

Thank you so much for visiting this special page!

I have never met Irene but she has been an enormous influence in my life. My name is Barbara Rubin and I am among the thousands of "faceless" persons, dependent upon the internet, to learn the urgent and life-giving messages that Irene disseminated so faithfully. Irene gave out life, distributed CHAI, to all who would hear that this world can be a paradise if we make our homes, schools and places of business hospitable to our bodies. She wrote in understanding, not anger, making her messages particularly appealing to the audience of parents, teachers and administrators who all too easily reject "inconvenient information" which adds yet another burden to their busy days.

Irene was unlike most activists of our time. She did not limit herself to the dissemination of information as her contribution to a society basically hostile to her cause. She infused it with her expectations of success, injected it with the joy of living and polished it with hope.

Irene believed in a future in which children and people in their prime will not find their lives irrevocably altered by the casual and unnecessary use of poisons.

A former speech therapist and school administrator, I was poisoned and brain damaged in a school by pesticides. Irene and I 'met' on an internet list for persons with chemical injuries. Newly brain injured and unable to edit the work I had painstakingly written to inform others of their dangers, Irene offered to take on the job of editing my work and offering tips on activist writing. She helped me to see that I was different but not diminished and could still be an instrument of change in a world I thought was lost to me forever.

Irene also refused to "become" her cause and retained a sense of her total self as an individual, mother, wife, friend and as a Jew. Last year, she urged a dozen or so of us who were denied places in synagogues to form a group we called the "cybersynagogue" and share shabbat messages, Torah readings and holiday prayers. Too ill by this time to participate fully in our little group, she still sent occasional messages. Even after becoming critically ill and knowing her options were fast diminishing, Irene continued to encourage me through bouts with homelessness as I was forced to leave several dangerously contaminated apartments with no place to go but my car. Irene understood such difficult decisions that go against the grain of society but are dictated by our needs.

Irene made those of us who were severely disabled understand that it was not enough to just survive but also to "live" as participating members of our society, no matter how restricted we must be. She understood that life ends when we cannot continue in that larger sense and helped us all to choose life over bitterness and despair.

Irene helped me to persevere in the face of rejection by family, friends and society. She understood all three of those factors but faced life without bitterness and helped to write the "manual" for those of us determined to reshape society, one letter, one cause, one step at a time.

I am blessed to have "known" her through the miracles of technology and promise to continue disseminating her message - which has saved countless lives even as hers was claimed. Her name should be alongside others such as Cindy Duerhing and Rachel Carson. Irene was felled by the senseless pursuit of profits at any cost but proved that humanity will always prevail as the torch is passed from hand to hand.

We must remember her with ACTION in order to do justice to her memory.

All who mourn her owe her that. Perhaps you can write a single letter to a newspaper. Perhaps you can visit a school to ensure that ignorance is not causing injury, that laziness and greed is not depriving someone of a full life. Irene would not stand for that.

Barbara Rubin

Ms Patterson, I didn’t know your mom, but heard of the wonderful work that she did. Some people live and die and no one notices, but your mom made a difference. She made her life count. Everyone (the whole world) will miss her.

Please know that I care.

Sincerely,

Izola Jones

I did not know your mother personally but I knew her name. She is known through-out the chemically-sensitive world and her loss is a loss not only to you and your family, but to all of us who benefited from her work.

Cyndi Norman

I send my prayers and deepest sympathy. Many EI people benefited from your wife's/mother's tireless dedication and hard work. She will be greatly missed. Sincerely,

Jessie from Southern California

We are deeply saddened by this news of Irene Wilkenfeld's passing. She gave tremendous support to the MCS community with her insight, knowledge, and compassion.

She worked tremendously hard while she was with us to help educate the greater community about MCS and the issues facing each of us. Her role as a teacher never ended. Her advocacy for children's health never ended. She was an inspiration to all of us.

She loved her family and was a dedicated wife, mother and grandmother. We will miss her dearly.

Elaine Tomko,Executive Director of ECHO

Irene was such a dear person and so very helpful to untold numbers of us. Millions more, we'll most likely never know about, will have benefited from her supreme efforts to educate. Irene was quick to step into help, whether it was me needing a lift or to write a letter on behalf of a high school girl who was perfume assaulted in school . . . Irene was there. I've had the pleasure of speaking with her, as well as communicating by email and snail mail. Her love of her family just bubbled forth. I'm so very fortunate to have known Irene Wilkenfeld.

I hope that you can keep her website available . . . it could continue to shine as a beacon on the very news Irene felt so strongly about and that we all need to know to protect our children, grandchildren and ourselves. If not, but should there be anything I could do to help keep her information available, please let me know.

With deepest sympathy,

Bill and Barb Wilkie

my name is Diana Buckland I am an mcs/chemical injury activist from Australia , I have been for some months circulating globally, a request that mcs/chemical injury sufferers submit their stories to the South Australian Parliamentary Enquiry into chemically induced illnesses - so in case you've seen that at different group postings, that's me.

I have a chemically injured son, and some years ago your mum emailed me after reading my son's story - I never forgot her care, concern, empathy for me and my son, I respect and admire her wonderful work and her courageous and beautiful care and concern for her fellow man - yes, she is a hero and I am deeply saddened at ths loss of this very remarkable woman.

Please will you and your dad, accept my greatest respects of your mum and my overwhelming sadness to hear of her passing.

Di Buckland from Brisbane, Australia

We at the NPA are terribly sad to hear about your mother. No question she put her own hardships to work and made the world a safer place for children. We have always appreciated the tremendous help provided by Irene and her web site. Our thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family.

Sincerely,

Deborah Z. Altschuler, President - National Pediculosis Association

Dear Ms Patterson

we are very sad for the loss a very special person and we feel very close to you in this moment.

We send you our deepest heartfelt condolences and wish you to feel the strenght to go through this moment of sorrow.

Please, be proud of Irene and feel joy for the glorious things she did in her life. We all owe Irene so much for her strenght and wiseness.

We will keep her memory in our hearts to go on working for all the people who undergo the experience of toxic exposures.

Love from the Italian Association for EI and MCS.

Donatella, Lucietta and Francesca

Dear Missi, So sorry for the loss of your mom. She touched many lives. I still have the original "Informed Consent" magazine from Dec 1993. I too was a mom on a mission. I did extensive outreach to educate the public on the dangers of pesticides in schools and homes here in NY. Your mom was very well respected, as you know. She made an incredible difference educating the public. She gave of herself to make the world a better place. Thank you for sharing your mom with the world.

With deepest sympathy for your loss,

Pam Botway

Dear Missi,

I send my deepest condolences to you and your family. I feel very bereaved at the thought of losing Irene.

Irene was an early mentor of mine. Many years ago, I read her series of articles about school indoor air quality issues in the magazine Informed Consent. I contacted her and she was extremely generous in time and information so that I could begin my own advocacy journey. Checking in with her by telephone was always a tonic for my soul.

Irene not only understood the problem of toxics and health at both the intellectual and visceral levels but understood how to communicate, educate and inspire so that others could understand it and try to protect themselves.

In spite of her own illness, she saved many lives and helped comfort many others, especially victims of pesticides, when there was no help or validation from health departments, environmental agencies or physicians. She was a genuine expert in articulating the pain and the politics of pesticides.

As a testimony to the many lessons she taught me, as my tribute to Irene and her work, and in memory of the victims of the New London School Disaster, March 1937, I designate Irene as my Healthy Kids IAQ Hero, March, 2004. I will invoke her name as an inspiration and role model in the effort to raise standards for child safety and school environmental quality. (See below.)

My prayers are with you.

Ellie Goldberg

Dear Missi,

I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of your dear and great mother, Irene Wilkenfeld. I have referred to your mother's work many times in my writings. On our web page about cosmetics and breast cancer, I wrote an article where I cited her work: Open Letter: Perfumes Contaminate Our classrooms. www.CancerResearchAmerica.org/cosmetics.html In legal proceedings where I testified as an expert witness concerning perfumes and other fragrances products, I referred to Irene's work.

Because of her work and dedication, you and your father can be assured that Irene's many contributions will live on in the hearts and minds of many environmental activists.

Please accept my sincere condolences and sympathy for this great loss to your family and friends, and the environmental community as well.

Kind regards,

Dr. James Coleman

www.CancerResearchAmerica.org

I am most saddened by the death of Irene.

She was a great activist and accomplished many wonderful things for the good of the mcs community. My sincerest sympathy , we as a group will never forget her.

Diana Jackson

I shall not attempt to eulogize Irene here as I am in too much shock at her loss to attempt to begin a task of this magnitude. I guess I thought that Irene was invincible, all the while knowing how fragile we all are who suffer these injuries. The last time we spoke Irene sounded despondent and hopeless about any cure. I suppose I assumed that when the time came Irene would have the final option of a liver transplant. I know that Irene had good reasons to reject this alternative. Irene was the most reasonable person I have ever known. Suffice it to say that there will be a huge hole in our efforts to educate schools and the public regarding chemical injuries and alternatives to toxics. For my part I shall deeply miss the support, the joy, the constant source of information, the considerate and kind manner in which Irene would correct my publications with me, the way Irene was always there for me and so many others. We can all take comfort in knowing that with all of Irene's good work she has earned many jewels in her crown in heaven and must surely know great peace.

May we all reach out to one another in support for the tremendous loss of Irene Wilkenfeld.

Elizabeth O'Nan, Director - Protect All Children's Environment

Dear Missi,

I was so sorry to here of the loss of your Mother. Irene was a very loving and caring person. We will all miss her greatly. My heart goes out to your and your father. I will continue to pray for you and your father. May God bring comfort and console you in this time of sorrow.

Pat Shcreiner

Missi -

I am so very sorry to hear of your loss. Your mother was a kind and loving and funny, truly amazing woman. I am honored to have "known" her online for many years now. My blessings are with you and your family at this time.

Kimberly Weeks

This site is maintained by:
Missi Patterson
missi@head-gear.com
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