Matt Baron
Randi went by many names and titles, Mom, Titi, Mama Affect, Randzer Danzer as my grandfather called her, but to me she was simply, Boo!
Randi was technically my cousin, but she was more like a best friend or an Aunt to me over the past 35 years. She was best friends with my Grandfather, her Uncle David, since she was a kid. They had so much fun together, constantly planning parties, dinners or cruises. They would talk every day! They were really two peas in a pod.
When I was young, Randi sent me a toy vacuum cleaner and from then on, she was my BFF for life. Randi was that fun Aunt that everyone wants. One of my first memories with her, was when we had just finished brunch at Miami Shores Country club for Mother’s Day. It was Nolvia driving Aunt Joanie’s Cadillac, Aunt Joanie, Gloria, Randi and my brother steven. She took us to Taco Bell and got us these huge Star Wars drinks, and then to the dollar store and said, “buy whatever you want.” Then she pulled up to the bank parking lot,and instead of going inside, the teller came out to her, in the backseat of the car. She ran Miami, she was the Queen of Miami, and everyone knew it! Ever since then, we always knew where the fun was at, it was with our Boo!
As a kid we would visit Miami every summer to see my grandfather, My aunt and Uncle and of course Randi and Sami! We got to be a part of the famous Friday night shabbat dinners, going out to Thai, Anise, Magnum or Catfish Dewey’s, the New years eve parties, all the fun. After my grandfather passed, I would come and stay with her and bring one of my brothers down too. We would go shopping, run errands in the Lincoln with her and Nolvia, go to Jimmy’s for breakfast, the same diner her grandfather AJ took her to as a little girl. We would be doing vodka filled water guns, Jello shots by the pool, going to her store to pick out some new clothes, going with Sami to his store at Bayside, or we would go out with Nancy to the movies and have lunch. We would spend countless nights chatting about everything under the sun while sipping on minute maid lemonade and eating a rum cake,her friend Michelle made, her neighbor Howie’s special brownies or some other dessert. We would spend hours together picking out new outfits for her to order, or stuff to buy her Grandkids. This would be followed by Sami who she affectionately called “kush” saying to her, ok enough, “Randi you not need it.” This was our relationship, we did a lot of fun things but hanging in the pool or laying in bed, watching a reality show, shopping, gossiping and eating together was enough for us, because we loved each other’scompany.
She truly made any ordinary moment extraordinary.
In 2014 Randi, Nancy and I went to Atlantis for a week in the Bahamas and had a blast. We went to fish fry in Nassau and hung out with dyson from the Baha men. Then we all went to a wellness retreat in North Carolina, we were exercising, watching what we would eat. Then at night Randi would throw a party, deck everyone out in designer, and she had a little red sign, just like she had at home stating, “Cash not credit” she would order Dominos and sneak it in the retreat for everyone! When I graduated college, she came to NJ to celebrate!
Back then, Randi always had her pink flip phone, and you knew when anyone would call because her ring tone was “Don’t cha wish your gf was hot like me or “apple bottom jeans boots with the fur” and it would go off nonstop. You never knew who it was going to be a customer, cousin, celebrity or a new friend, the flavor of the month. Over the years she upgraded to the iPhone where she became a social media queen posting on FB and Instagram.
As we both got older, I got to see her become a Titi. She was so proud of her 5 grandchildren. When I would visit, she would bring me up to speed on all their accomplishments. She was a fighter, and always knew how to show up for all of us!
I know we will never meet someone like Randi ever again! She taught me so much about life and how to be proud of myself, be confident and as she would put “not give a crap about what other’s think.”
She didn’t, she lived life on her terms, by her own rules, her way period!
At eulogies people are often described as, “one of a kind, irreplaceable, or special” but Randi truly was ethereal. She made life fun; she made everyone who walked in her life feel welcomed and cared for. She would make every excuse to throw a party and boy did she know how to party. If you loved Randi, you probably also had words with her too which meant that she cared for you deeply. At the end of the day, you knew she loved you! She was a force and she loved fiercely!
I know as soon as she got up to the gates, she took over, making sure things were fabulous as always. I know she has been reunited with all her loved ones and her favorite dog, Sushi!
Thanks for the memories, Boo, we will cherish them for the rest of our lives! We know there will never be another Mama like you!
143, which stood for, I love you, as Randi would say!
Randi I will always love & miss you! 143💔