Roberta ('Bert) and I were a big part of each other's lives for 48 years. We met in Mrs. Retty's 6th grade class at Jamestown, where we were in rival girls cliques. But at Williamsburg, we became fast friends, eating lunch together in the cafeteria where we celebrated birthdays, usually with a cake made by 'Bert. In high school we often walked home to her house and had chocolate chip cookies along with tab sodas. We had sleepovers, snuck out to toilet paper boy's houses in the middle of the night, spent hours on the phone, double dated, and planned outings to Luigis in D.C. where you could drink (and somehow I would be the designate driver).      After Yorktown, during college we wrote 8 and 10 page letters to each other. 'Bert was a Russian History major, loved learning, and began her passion for far away travels and appreciation of other cultures. She was also very active in political causes and campaigned vigorously for Jimmy Carter. Once done with school, she as a court reporter in Atlanta and me as a psychiatric social worker in N.C., we visited each other often. Asheville N.C.  was a frequent in-between meeting place. We always pointed each other to the best books and movies and never ever ran out of thinkgs to talk about.      'Bert was in my wedding and I was thrilled to be at hers 8 years later. She married Jim, quickly had their daughter Shannon at age 42, and left her life as a career woman to become a devoted mom. She bacame president of the PTA and taught by example what it means to care for others and work to make a better world for our children.      At age 58 at Thanksgiving holiday she had trouble finding words and being 'Bert (nicknamed many years before "motormouth"), she knew something was wrong. She was diagnosed with a brain tumor of the most aggressive  kind. She underwent surgery and chemo while remodelling her kitchen.  Afterwards she had a good year of health before the tumor was back for good. She died right before Christmas, leaving family and friends to miss her vitality, lively spirit, and incomparable presence.      Her essence lives on now in her daughter, Shannon, who has that same incredible laugh and love for life that was a hallmark of  her mother.  Shannon, an extremely gifted and talented young woman, has worked as a stand-up comedian (the apple does not fall far from the tree!) and is currently pursueing a master's degree in film at Columbia University. She is making her mom proud!      'Bert -- we are missing you!