Lillian Cadiff Strouss

Lillian Cadiff Strouss, “Lil,” who acted in and directed more than thirty plays at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Columbus’s (JCC) Gallery Players theatre until the age of 84, died on November 29, in Columbus, OH, with her children by her side. She was 89. Lil was born in Brookline, MA on April 7, 1926, to Abraham, a professional furrier, and Catherine Cadiff. The Cadiff’s were members of Temple Israel in Boston. She had performing in her blood. She never forgot seeing her paternal grandmother, Sophie Cadiff, sing on stage in the Catskills as a young child. Her father was a singer and violinist, playing violin with the Senior Orchestra for the Boston Symphony. Despite growing up as a shy child, Lil’s acting career began when her mother signed her up for elocution lessons. Around the age of 12, she was walking herself across the Boston Commons each week to study under Wilma Dearborn Carter at the Bishop Lee School of the Theatre. She then achieved a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre and Speech at Ithaca College. While in college, she acted in the Boston¬-area, Cape Cod and other summer stock companies alongside Gloria Swanson, Pat Carroll and Edward Everett Horton. She was often the only Jewish actor in the company. While in Ithaca, Lil met Albert “Bud” Strouss, a Cornell student, who she married in 1948. They moved to Youngstown, Ohio, Bud’s hometown, where she founded a small theatre school for young children. Their three children, Sandi, Patty and David, were born here. Her children, grandchildren and great¬-grandchildren were her greatest joy. The family then moved to Columbus, Ohio. Lil began her 55 years of service to and leadership within the JCC’s Gallery Players theatre in 1960. Harold Eisenstein, legendary JCC Cultural Arts Director, called Lil, then a young mother with three young children in a new city, and asked to meet her. Despite her hesitation, Mr. Eisenstein insisted she play Princess Berta in Ondine, rightfully affirming, “You can do it.” She went on to play significant roles in eight more shows, including The Price with Larry Storch. She then directed another twenty¬-two productions in over twenty years. In May 2010, she directed her last show, The Immigrant, which won rave reviews from critics and audiences alike. Lil served on the JCC’s Board of Trustees and twice chaired the Gallery Players Committee, always committed to exploring and defining their ongoing mission and ensuring the shows offered messages relevant not just to the Jewish community, but also the wider community. This theatre was “like a child” to her: “I’ve watched it go through certain stages . . . There are disappointing times and there are times that it just explodes with glory and doing great things. And I hope that it continues to do great things. I hope that we will go down on record as being one of the great Jewish community theaters in the country. I think when we had our great moments, and I hope to see them there again, and again ...” Indeed, Gallery Players is the longest running community theatre in the Midwest.The JCC has honored Lil’s “fierce” advocacy on behalf of Gallery Players as Volunteer of the Year, Outstanding Director, and one of the Film Festival's special 8 over 80 treasures. In April 2016, she will be one of the inaugural inductees into the Legends of Gallery Players. All cast and crew who worked with Lil found a talented, knowledgeable artist and leader, and many became her close friends. Carol Folkerth, JCC Executive Director, says, “She taught me so much professionally about the theater and about the arts and the critical role they play in our community. I sought her advice on play selection, directors, casting, professionals, our mission and what makes a Jewish Theater. She was a unique woman, dedicated volunteer and community leader. As her ‘adopted’ daughter, she gave me the best gift of all - ¬ herself.” In her early acting days in Columbus, Lil also performed once a year for Player’s Club theatre. Her first performance was as the nun in The Prime of Miss Jean Brody, and her favorite role from the entirety of her career was as Banana in House of Blue Leaves at Players. She put her belief in the significance of the arts into action by volunteering and otherwise supporting the Columbus arts community. She was among the longest¬ serving docents at the Columbus Museum of Art. Her favorite tours were for school groups where she inspired a love of art in young children by encouraging them to act out what they were seeing and feeling. She was an avid supporter of Pro Musica and the Columbus Symphony as well as a trusted adviser and patron of CATCO. As a resident of German Village for about 40 years, Lil was a member of the German Village Society. She was also a member of Temple Israel. She was an adventurous explorer of all parts of the world, but always knew her home to be in the arts community in Columbus. "I just love performing and directing" Lil said, “Directing is like painting a picture, putting the pieces together like a symphony.” She is survived by her brother and sister-in-law, Daniel and Dorothea Cadiff of Rancho Mirage, California; daughters, Sandra Strouss of Baltimore, Maryland and Patricia Malin of Mason, Ohio, and son, David Strouss and his wife, Tracy Mannix of Ipswich, Massachusetts; grandchildren, Allison Monti- Harper, Justin Harper, Ashley Malin, Samantha Strouss, and Caroline Strouss; and great-grandchildren, Anna Monti-Harper and Hallam Harper. Memorial services will be held at 11:00am on Sunday, January 31 at Columbus Jewish Community Center in the Roth/Resler Theatre, 1125 College Ave. with Rabbi Deborah Lefton officiating. The service will be followed by a light meal of condolence. Funeral services and interment were held in Boston on December 4, 2015. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Columbus Jewish Foundation, Lillian C. Strouss Gallery Players Endowment, 1175 College Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43209 or directly to the Gallery Players at 1125 College Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43209 will be appreciated. Online guestbook at www.epsteinmemorial.com