Obituary of Linda B Fine
Linda Bernice Fine, 91, of Indianapolis, IN passed away on March 8, 2024. She was born in Indianapolis in August of 1932 to parents Philip Russof Sarbinoff and Olga Raptcheff Sarbinoff, both of whom migrated with their families to the US from the village of Xino Nero in what is today Greek Macedonia to escape the violence of the Balkan Wars of 1912-13. Raised along with older sister Patricia largely by their grandmother Ellena and mother Olga, Linda spoke Macedonian as a child and enjoyed Macedonian food and cultural activities her entire life.
Linda Fine passed away quite suddenly at her apartment in the Traditions at Reagan Park Facility in Avon, Indiana, after enjoying dinner at the communal dining room with friends. She was in excellent physical and mental health and would revel in conversation, cooking, watching old films, birdwatching, reading (especially world history), collecting folk arts (matryoshka nesting dolls a favorite), snacking (biscotti, donuts, lokum, Peeps), and spending time with family (cousin Karen Wright being a particular favorite) and friends.
After graduating from Washington High School in 1949, Linda worked as a dental assistant. When her kids began college, she went to work full time as an educational paraprofessional at West Central Joint Services (Wayne Township). She engaged in volunteer activities, for example helping children learn to read in an elementary school program, and working in the Eiteljorg Museum gift shop, where she educated herself about Native American cultural rights and artisanry. Her work at Joint Services affected her perhaps most profoundly, as her interest in the rights and welfare of disabled children never wavered.
Linda met Marion Fine in 1951 at Westlake Beach Club, where he was a lifeguard. They married in 1952 and had their children in 1953, 1954, and 1956. Because of Marion’s work as coach and Athletic Director at Ben Davis High School, Linda attended hundreds of athletic events and was a sports fan throughout her life, following professional golf tournaments most closely. She herself played golf until arthritis slowed her down, but she lunched regularly with women she met at the Speedway golf club and from the Curves exercise facility until very shortly before her death.
Linda was a voracious "lifelong learner" and lover of words. As many knew firsthand, she was hard to beat at “Words with Friends,” the New York Times Sunday crossword, or “Jeopardy.” A member of a Methodist Church choir in her youth, Linda had a lifelong passion for music, particularly opera. Skilled and generous in the kitchen, Linda studied food programs on tv and pored over cookbooks.
Linda had an insatiable curiosity about the world and its people. She traveled with Marion around the US, Canada, and Mexico, but also made solo trips to Ecuador, Spain, and central Europe. She developed a particularly strong affinity to the red rock areas of Zion National Park in Utah and Sedona and Monument Valley in Arizona, where the cathedral-like formations spoke to her as if from a previous life.
Having grown up in Jim Crow Indianapolis in a multicultural if segregated area made up of eastern Europeans, African Americans, and migrants from southern states, Linda had a fierce and unwavering ethos of social justice and tolerance for difference. In Linda and Marion’s household, expressions of discrimination and racism were disallowed and a respect for equality strongly valued.
Linda had an irreverent sense of humor inflected with a flair for sarcasm and truth telling. A feminist ahead of her time in thought, deed, and attitude, Linda was a role model who expressed her views about women’s rights openly on social media. A fierce pragmatist and progressive thinker who refused to truck in guilt tripping or self-pity, she was a pillar of support as well as a mentor and guide to those who knew and appreciated her. Most of all, however, Linda Fine was a devoted matriarch who loved her family with unwavering dedication and generosity.
Linda is preceded in death by her parents; husband of 50 years, Marion Edward Fine; and sister Patricia Lovingfoss.
Linda is survived by her daughter Kathleen (Byron) Fine-Dare of Durango, CO; sons Richard (Nancy) Fine of Plainfield, IN and Larry (Cece) Fine of Indianapolis, IN; grandsons Nicholas (Silvia) Fine of Burgos, Spain, Damon Fine of Quincy, IN, Jeremy (Liz) Fine of St. Louis, MO, and Richard (Kat) Fine of Yuma, AZ; granddaughter Elena Fine of West Lafayette, IN; step-granddaughters, Alexandra Cline of Martinsville, IN and Sarah Perkins (Robert) of Durango, CO; step-grandson, Brian Sulcer (LeeAnne) of Phoenix, AZ; 15 great grandchildren; nephews Donald Lovingfoss of Carmel, IN, and Gary Lovingfoss of Jacksonville, FL; and cousins Karen Wright of Ohio, and Mick Finnegan of Colorado.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in her name may be made to the Butler University Marion E. Fine Memorial Scholarship Fund by calling Butler University Advancement at gift@butler.edu or visit the link below to make gift in honor of Marion E. Fine.
Please copy and paste this link into your web browser.
https://www.butler.edu/advancement/make-a-gift/