Charlene Menkin, 76, retired teacher, artist

YOU HAD TO STEP pretty quickly to keep up with Charlene Rubin Menkin. She set a brisk pace despite having limited use of her limbs from a childhood bout with polio.

But whether being helped along with a cane or, later, with a motorized scooter, Charlene wasn't about to restrict herself in any way. She taught high school, traveled extensively and was the life of any party.

"When she would come into any room, people just flocked to her," said her daughter-in-law, Darlynne Menkin. "She had a loud voice and a great sense of humor. She was a hoot.

"She would not let anything stop her."

Charlene Menkin, who taught English and reading at Garnet Valley High School in Glen Mills for 40 years, an artist and devoted family matriarch, died Feb. 20 after a long battle with lymphoma. She was 76 and lived in the Quadrangle retirement home in Haverford.

At the Quadrangle, Charlene was not only a popular resident because of her friendly, outgoing nature, but she also continued her quest for new, creative experiences.

Her lifelong passion for reading led her to organize book-discussion groups at the Quadrangle. She also put together field trips, often to cultural destinations, and took a number of courses, including painting and sculpture. She made ceramic models of the characters in "The Wizard of Oz," which she hung on the walls of her room.

"She said living there was a lot like college," Darlynne said. "There was the social life, parties. You ate in the cafeteria with your buddies. The only thing missing were exams."

Darlynne told of having to run after Charlene when they visited the hilly San Diego Zoo. "She would zip around in her scooter, and I got exhausted keeping up with her."

Charlene was born to Morris and Lillian Rubin in Hamburg, Berks County. She was diagnosed with polio - tragically just a few months before the discovery of a vaccine that would nearly eliminate the dreaded disease from the country.

Polio affected her left leg and left arm, but despite the handicap, she continued her education and graduated from Temple University. She married Gabriel Menkin on July 8, 1961, and lived in Malvern.

Even after her bout with polio, Charlene demonstrated the "can-do" attitude she would carry with her for the rest of her life.

"Known for her spirit of adventure, wonderful sense of humor and infectious laugh, Charlene truly enjoyed life," her family said. "Charlene was a woman of many talents and was constantly on the go."

She and her husband traveled widely, across the U.S., to Europe, Cancun, Mexico; the Bahamas, Hawaii and other destinations.

Besides her husband, she is survived by a son, Marc Menkin; a daughter, Marcia Foster, and two grandchildren. She was predeceased by a sister, Maxine Schoener.

Services: A celebration-of-life observance will begin at 2 p.m. on March 16 in the auditorium of the Quadrangle, 3300 Darby Road, Haverford.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Delaware County SPCA, 555 Sandy Bank Road, Media PA 19063.