April R. Elsasser
February 14, 1959 ~ December 5, 2022
APRIL ELSASSER
(2/14/1959 – 12/5/2022)
April was born on Valentine's Day 1959 to Max and Ruth Elsasser in Weehawken New Jersey. April attended school in Weehawken and obtained a degree in Political Science at Carlton College, Minnesota
The bulk of her professional career was spent in IT for the publishing industry. Staring at the Law Journal she worked for Atex, The New York Times and Norton Publishing.
Outside of work she really spread her wings. An avid caver, hiker and finally sailor she also kayaked, canoed and rock climbed. Her last big adventure was crewing a 45-foot catamaran at night across the Gulf Stream from Fort Lauderdale to Bimini in the Bahamas.
April was also an accomplished musician. She studied piano from the age of eight and took a music minor in college. Having perfect pitch and a great memory for songs she could pick up nearly any instrument and play a tune. Leonia residents may remember her playing with her jazz band, Foreign Exchange, at the Presbyterian Church.
April was a committed environmentalist and met her husband while Conservation Chair of the Hudson County branch of the Sierra Club. She was also involved with many other community groups: treasurer of the Leonia Players Guild, board member of the Leonia Community Chest, board member of Melodia Women's Choir, on the leadership committee of the Central Unitarian Church in Paramus and on the Board of Governors of the Nyack Boat Club.
She leaves behind a husband, son and father, brother, sister-in-law, niece and nephew, an ever growing, extended family of cousins and countless friends all of whom loved her and miss her so much.
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I'm sorry I won't be able to attend April's memorial service. I was in her jazz group, Foreign Exchange, with her and she was such a pleasure to work with. She was a formidable keyboard player too – nothing fazed her, and she seemed to play effortlessly, with great chord structure and strong improvisation skills. And she was so supportive of others. Knowing her really only slightly, and still missing her very much, I can only imagine how much her family feels, and my prayers are for all of you. I am so grateful to have known her.
While reading the latest issue of Carleton College's Voice (Fall 2023), I saw the notice of April's passing. Tears flow now as the memories of the time I shared with her & all the freshman in Nourse Hall (the only Woman's dorm on campus) flooded my mind. I was a senior and it was the only dorm I could get a single room on campus. April lived across the hall & we became fast friends along with a few others. I was barely 5 ft tall & she of course towered over me. I was given the nickname "Munchkin". I mentored the freshman on the art of surviving your first year with humor and taught a number of the freshman women a lot of great practical jokes April never forgave me for "buttering" her bed one Friday night. I had "borrowed" about 100 pats of butter from the dining hall. I broke into her room by easily "carding the lock on the door". Buttered the sheets, remade the bed & left. Unfortunately I went up to the cities that weekend & so didn't get to hear the blood curdling screams coming from her room. She and Joanna Piepgrass who was also very tall, were kind enough to tower over me in my senior picture with the caption "Short people have no reason to live". My belated condolences to her husband Roland & family.
Sincerely, Carrie Adicoff Carleton Class of 1978.