Elaine Hirsch, 76, beloved wife of Gerald Hirsch, passed away Oct. 22 after a lengthy illness. She had lived in Tavernier and Islamorada since 1982 and had been a resident of Highland Park, Ill. </p><p>Elaine graduated from Lake Erie College for Women, earning a degree in elementary education. During her senior year of college, she studied at the University of Grenoble, France. Following college graduation, she attended the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, concentrating in art therapy. She taught first grade and kindergarten in Wheeling, Ill. for six years.</p><p>Elaine and Gerald Hirsch divided their time between the Keys and Chicago. In the Keys she volunteered at Mariners Hospital and the Keys Jewish Community Center. At Mariners, Elaine was a member of the Century Club and volunteered as a member of the Mariners Hospital Auxiliary. She was named Woman of the Year by the Keys Jewish Community Center in 2008.</p><p>In Illinois, Elaine volunteered for a number of years for the Roycemore School in Evanston and the Lake Forest Academy. A board member of the Highland Park Historical Society, she was a docent at the Spertus Museum of Judaica and a volunteer for Concertante di Chicago. </p><p>In addition to her husband, Elaine is survived by her son, Allan (Beth) Hirsch; daughter, Penny (George) Facchini; several grandchildren; her brother, Thomas (Donna) Stone; and sister-in-law, Fritzi (Hal) Goldberg.</p><p>Services will be held Sunday, Nov. 8 at 4 p.m. at the Keys Jewish Community Center. The family asks that in lieu of flowers remembrances of Elaine be sent to Mariners Hospital Foundation, 91500 Overseas Hwy., Tavernier, FL 33070.