Obituary of Bash Areheart Savitz

Bash Elizabeth Areheart Savitz COLUMBIA-Bash Elizabeth Areheart Savitz, 94, of Columbia, passed away on Sunday, January 15, 2012 after a brief illness. Had you travelled to China in 1989, you may have seen a perfectly coiffed Southern lady, immaculately dressed and inexhaustibly curious about her favorite Oriental destination, exploring the world into her late eighties and reminding it to mind its manners along the way. Bash Savitz was born in 1917 in New Brookland (West Columbia), SC to Henry Julius Areheart and Martha Ruth Wilkins Areheart. She graduated from Columbia College and taught home economics before marrying Issac Savitz of St. Matthews, SC in 1941. She was the epitome of old Southern grace and class, and spent the next thirty years raising five sons and daughters, beginning with her eldest, Issac Jr. (`42), born while his father was overseas in the war. After Issac, she gave birth to Judy ('45), Libby ('47), David ('50), and Kenny ('51). She was punctilious and unfailingly polite, and her children learned to be the same after (briefly) putting her indomitable will to the test. With her marriage to Maurice Savitz in 1985, she gained Susan (`44) and Peter (`48) who also became an important part of her life. Her energy seemed boundless. Along with raising her children, she was a den mother in Cub Scouts, and served as the President of both the Columbia Women's Club and the Garden Club. In her later years, she poured herself into hobbies and travel, becoming an enthusiastic bridge player and churchgoer, enjoying Ikebana and the culinary arts. Bash was a preeminent hostess, and entertained with the flair of one well-travelled. Following 24 years living in Florida, she returned to her home of Columbia residing at Wildewood Downs. In addition to her children and their spouses, she is survived by twenty-two grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren who knew her as Gammy, purveyor of petits fours and chocolate nuts, and toys from the Orient. The grandchildren are Marcie, Trey, Griff, Amy, Lisa, Read, Alex, Grace, Elise, Carrie, Michael, Katie, Lara, Jessica, Kenny, Benjamin, Adam, William, Eric, Jessica, Todd, and Zach and great-grandchildren Dollie, Daniel, Trey, Marielle, Millianne, Kelly, Jerry, Ella, Rebecca, Samantha, Sarah, Nora, and Tegan. A graveside service will be held at 1:00 PM on Wednesday, January 18, 2012, in Greenlawn Memorial Park, officiated by Rev. Elford A. Roof. Memorials may be made to Palmetto Health Hospice, PO Box 7275, Columbia, SC 29202 or Lexington County Museum, 231 Fox Street, Lexington, SC 29072. Thompson Funeral Home of West Columbia is in charge. Family and friends may sign online guest book at www.thompsonsfuneral.com