Julia Elisabeth Offer Reis, 59, died February 22, ending her valiant five-year battle with ALS. Born in Detroit, she grew up in Racine, Wis., and spent most of her adult life in Newtown, Ridgefield, and Danbury.

Her struggle with ALS ultimately relocated her to Sarasota, Fla., and Oshkosh, Wis. Everywhere she went, she added to her circle of friends.

Significant places in Ms Reis's work career included Perkin-Elmer, Running Times Magazine, and Morris Media Group. She volunteered at Danbury Hospital, Danbury Grassroots Tennis and Enrichment Program, and with The Muscular Dystrophy Association.

She was a gourmet cook, famous for graciously presenting delicious meals. She reviewed restaurants, catered, and had a recipe column in Running Times Magazine called "Run to the Table."

Her siblings and their spouses, Joseph and Christina Slowick Offer of Applegate, Calif., Charles and Marilyn Offer of Sarasota, Fla., Jerome and Ruth Henry Offer of West Linn, Ore., and Mary Ann Offer and Peter Westort of Oshkosh; and 19 nieces and nephews survive. Her beloved husband, Jay Reis; and her parents,Shirley nad Robert Offer, predeceased her.

Ms Reis's loved ones say she will be remembered as having been a great wife to Jay, a kind and fun-loving friend to many, and a doting aunt to her nieces and nephews.

At Ms Reis's request, there will be no memorial service.

The family encourages memorial donations be made to the ALS Association at alsa.org; or to the Muscular Dystrophy Association at mda.org.