The regulars at Einstein Bros. Bagels in Bel Air knew they had better not get too comfortable in certain seats.
If you happened to be in one of her “regulars’” spots, Natalie Litofsky would politely but firmly let you know. “She would tell the people who were at the table, ‘You need to get up; my customers sit here all the time,’” her mother, Barbara Litofsky, recalled with a smile.
“That was just Natalie — open, honest, kind. And everybody loved her there.”
Natalie Jamie Litofsky, whose life was defined by courage, warmth and an indomitable spirit, died on June 22 at her home in Forest Hill. She was 43.
From the start, her life was considered a miracle. Born with congenital heart disease and rare syndromes, she underwent three open-heart surgeries before adulthood.
Complications during her first surgery deprived her of oxygen for nearly eight minutes, resulting in lifelong developmental challenges.
Doctors told her parents she wasn’t supposed to live past the age of 40 because of all her ailments. Instead, she lived nearly 44 years, filling them with laughter, music, work and deep family bonds.
“She overcame a lot of obstacles,” Barbara Litofsky said. “She had constant pain, and even a simple cold could knock her out. But she never wanted to miss a family dinner, a birthday, anything. She always wanted to be part of life.”
Her older brother, Lee Litofsky, said their relationship was closer than most siblings ever know. “I wasn’t just her brother; we were best friends,” he said. When Natalie entered ninth grade, Lee was a senior at the same high school. “It was awesome. We carpooled together, had lunch together. That year is something I’ll always cherish.”
The two shared music and memories, even when their tastes differed. “She had a true love for the Backstreet Boys,” Lee Litofsky said. “She even got me to go to a concert with her. I didn’t want to, but it turned into an amazing night I’ll never forget.”
After completing a special program at Towson University, Litofsky worked at the university day care before finding her place at Einstein’s, where she spent 15 years.
She brewed coffee, cleaned tables, swept floors and, most importantly, built friendships. “She had her routines, her people. It was her community,” Barbara Litofsky said.
Her openness extended everywhere she went. At the local YMCA, where she joined her mother in yoga classes twice a week, members honored her after her passing with a photo and a collection box for cards. “They just loved her,” Barbara Litofsky said.
Faith and Jewish identity were steady threads in her life. Litofsky celebrated her bat mitzvah at the Embassy Suites in Hunt Valley and attended services at Temple Adas Shalom.
She volunteered at the Harford Chabad in Bel Air, handling weekly mailings and sending out yahrzeit candles with her usual precision. “She was meticulous and proud to help,” her mother said.
Her brother recalled the joy she took in Jewish youth groups as a teen. Encouraged by him, Litofsky joined BBYO, attended conventions and even traveled to Israel on a trip she won through Towson University Hillel.
One of her brother’s most vivid memories is the early-morning call he received from her after she climbed Masada. “She was so proud of herself,” he said. “That was Natalie. She never let anything stop her.”
Family was at the center of her world. She lived with her mother and doted on her nieces, Sarah and Heather, and her beloved cat. Early on in her life, her uncle and two children, Pam and Stephen, joined the household, deepening the relationships she experienced with extended family.
“Natalie is the godmother to my oldest child,” Lee said. “She loved my girls immensely. Our family has always been told we’re not just family, we’re friends, and Natalie made that true.”
Vacations, especially cruises, were another source of joy. Cousin Pam Long said Natalie’s parents, Barbara and the late Howard Litofsky, gave her a rich and full life.
“They included her in everything,” Long said. “They gave her the best life — amazing vacations, cruises. This was their daughter, and they gave her all the love and experiences any child deserves.”
Even in the digital space, Litofsky’s warmth was unmistakable. “Her pictures and posts on Facebook showed a warm, caring and loving soul,” posted family friend Roberta Garfield-Sachs in an online memories book.
Despite the limitations brought on by her health, Litofsky’s personality shone through. She lived with rheumatoid arthritis in her later years, using a Rollator to get around, but her smile never dimmed.
“She never had a negative word about anyone,” Lee Litofsky said. “She always had a smile on her face.”
Barbara Litofsky said that is the lesson her daughter leaves behind. “Her legacy is to be kind, to be honest and to smile,” she said.
Ellen Braunstein is a freelance writer.
May her memory be a blessing to all who knew her.