Elissa Beryl Bishop-Becker, of Key West, continued her spiritual journey beyond this physical life on April 27, 2021 after a brief battle with cancer. Born to Milton and Hazel (Simpson) Kaufman on July 20, 1947 in New York, she grew up in New Hyde Park, Long Island, attending the public schools of Great Neck South. A journey through several universities (American, New School, Hofstra, Adelphi) brought her a bachelorâs degree in English from Hunter College. Her early vocational and avocational work was in editing and writing, especially poetry.
By her own admission and delight, her greatest achievement was the birth of her daughter, Ericka Brindl Bishop in 1975. A single mother for many years, she supported and encouraged Ericka toward eventual matriculation in Morse College at Yale University.