Leslie Nogi Luminati, 72, a Ridgefield resident for 37 years, died peacefully October 18. She was born in Elizabeth, N.J., August 15, 1942, to Vida Evans Nogi and Alfred Nogi, first generation British and Hungarian immigrants (respectively), and educators in the Linden, N.J., school district.

Her husband of 50 years, Robert; daughter Gwynne Luminati Wittmann of Sandy Hook; son Stephen and grandson Alexander of Fairfax Station, Va.; and brother Stephen Nogi of Marietta, Ga., survive Ms Luminati.

She attended Allegheny College in Allegheny, Penn., where she met her future husband. She went on to earn a master’s degree from Keane University in New Jersey, and served as a certified speech pathologist in public schools in Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Connecticut. She used her skills throughout her life to better the verbal and emotional development of children.

She was a veteran volunteer at the Keeler Tavern Museum and a driver for Meals-On-Wheels. Many residents also saw her at Ridgefield Orthopedic as a medical transcriptionist, but more importantly, as a frequent volunteer chaperone and adopted den mother in the Ridgefield school system. Although her service at Keeler Tavern and in the medical industry was important to her, her greatest joy was spending time with her family and those close to them. She cherished annual secluded family retreats to Elkins, N.H., as much as she welcomed her peers and children’s friends to her home. Many a happy evening was spent in the Luminati home, enjoying games of charades as everyone feasted on the incredible spread that was arrayed in the kitchen.

As Reverend Charles Cesaretti spoke of her ethos, “C'mon in, there are warm cookies on the table.”

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Siamese Cat Rescue Center at www.va.siameserescue.org, the Keeler Tavern Preservation Society at www.keelertavernmuseum.org, or the Vida Evans Nogi Memorial Scholarship Fund at www.cappex.com/scholarship/listings/Vida-Evans-Nogi-Memorial-Scholarship-Fund/-s-d-22024.

Ms Luminati was very specific: if loved ones would prefer to send flowers, please, no lilies.

Funeral services will take place Friday, October 24, at 1 pm, at Kane Funeral Home, 25 Catoonah Street, Ridgefield. Friends will be received at the funeral home from noon until the time of the service. Interment will take place in Maple Shade Cemetery, Ridgefield, following the service.