Lillian M Deutsch

Lillian Mildred Deutsch was born at the home of her parents, Julia Shapiro Cowan and Joseph Cowan, in Everett, Massachusetts, on April 21, 1918. The oldest of three children, her mother died when she was just eleven years of age. She “kept house” for her father and struggled to keep herself and her sister Frances and brother Elliott out of foster care and orphanages. She worked after school and on weekends at F.W. Woolworth and Co. Always affable, she made pecan rolls and chocolate candies in store windows on Washington St., in what was then the heart of Downtown Boston. She also worked part-time at Pierce’s Fresh Candies on Tremont St. For many years, she worked alongside her husband George Deutsch and father-in-law Nathan Deutsch in their family hardware business in East Boston. Later, she joined the sales teams for the sportswear and women’s clothing departments at both iconic Boston stores, Wm. F. Filene’s and Jordan Marsh. Her mantra became, “Agree with the customer; don’t push the sale.”Accepting a dare, walking in off the street, and telling a receptionist she had to be hired, Lillian Deutsch began a long, successful sales career at New England Telephone and Telegraph. Starting as a customer’s representative, she was promoted to Supervisor, and, eventually, Manager – a rare Jewish woman advancing through the old boys’ network in a staid New England corporation. Well-known as “Miss D”, she called on national accounts and created copy with major advertising agencies for her beloved Yellow Pages. She believed in the power of advertising, and was repeatedly acknowledged and rewarded for her achievements. She taught her colleagues and trained and mentored new employees in what she called “the art of how to sell.” Never reluctant to strike up a conversation, and never at a loss for words, she became identified with her signature approach, “May I suggest an idea or two?”Lillian spent most of her adult years in tidy homes directly on the ocean (“on the watah”) in Winthrop, Massachusetts. She played active roles in women’s organizations and synagogue fundraising events. She took center stage as she belted out show tunes and memorized solo parts for volunteer performances. Lillian loved dressing in costume and Halloween was her best time of year -- her flapper and pregnant bride costumes were legendary. Her favorite sport was shopping the “Automatix” in Filene’s Basement. She was a pro who bought anything on sale, from English bone china to furs -- but especially shoes. Her father, Joe Cowan, was a banjo player who’d emigrated from England in the early 1900s to join a troupe of Vaudeville entertainers, so, naturally, in her first retirement in Lake Worth, Florida, Lillian began to memorize and collect jokes, and she started entertaining at synagogue and women’s gatherings. As her routines became longer, she was energized by the laughter, and she found herself accepting gigs for a stand-up comic. She lost her husband in 1991, and in 2006, at age 88, she relocated to a second retirement in Madison, Wisconsin. Comfortable with a microphone and an audience, she performed in talent shows at Capitol Lakes Retirement Center and Beth Israel Center, and, well into her 90’s, she made late-night cameo appearances when singer Francie Phelps and pianist Mike Massey performed at the Ivory Room Piano Bar. “Nana Lil” leaves behind her daughter and buddy Judy Deutsch Karofsky and their shared little dog, Bacon, two nephews and a niece (and their families), and three grandchildren: Jill, Amy (Kevin McAdams), and Andy (Monica Lengyel) Karofsky. She was blessed to know and love one adult step-great-granddaughter and four great-grandchildren (Daphne, Logan, Danny, and Campbell Karofsky), whom she talked about all her days. In her memory, please dress up and tell a joke. “Now,” as she frequently told her audience, “quiet down, everyone.” Gifts in Lillian’s name may be shared with Jewish Social Services of Madison, jssmadison.org, 6434 Enterprise Lane, Madison, WI, 53719 or Madison Opera, madisonopera.org, 335 W. Mifflin St., Madison, WI, 53703. The family will hold private services.