In Loving Memory

Judith Havas

We here at Transient Books are very saddened to announce the passing of Judith Havas on February 15, 2017 in Salem, Oregon (USA). If you ordered from us anytime since we began in 2001 up until February 2016 when Judith, my mother, was diagnosed with leukemia, hers were the hands that put your package in the mail from Salem.

Mom and Alex in Icho Cruz, Argentina in 2001

(Mom and me back in 2001, in Icho Cruz, Prov. de Cordoba, Argentina--working out the details.)

Mom loved Transient Books. She loved the packages, the details, the crazy dream come true: custom handmade books created by her daughter and son-in-law in Argentina and then shipped to clients all over the planet, via her home base in Oregon, USA. We had to work a lot of glitches out of the system along the way! Mom, of course, was in the front row every time, cheering the loudest, offering up creative solutions.

Judith working on a shipment of books with Olivia

(Mom working on a shipment of books from her den in Salem, with her US granddaughter Olivia. Always, a family affair.)

Judith visiting Argentina in 2012

2012 Mom visit.

We were very fortunate that Mom could come visit us each year in Argentina. We always had our priorities straight on those visits.

Swings:

Judith on the swings

Books:

Judith working in the bindery

On her last visit in October 2015, she even wanted to sew copies of The Janos Letter--branching out from her usual favorite task which was rolling up thread and organizing ribbons:

Judith sewing copies of The Janos Letter

She loved the clothes line most of all:

The clothes line at the bindery

So much so that during her last year, portraits of the clothesline and its view continued to be a favorite for her:

View from the clothes line

Transient Books, from the very beginning, was made possible because of Mom's unfaltering faith and support. Because she said: of course this is possible. And so we believed it, too. We miss her infinitely.

Mom and Magu at a coffee shop in Salem

Mom and Magu, at her favorite coffee shop in Salem, Oregon. January 4, 2017.

In parting, we leave you with a special Transient Books production. Mom was diagnosed in February 2016. One of her requests soon after was that we send a recording of her favorite lullaby from down here. Because Magu's recording studio is part of the binding studio, it was an honor for Transient Books to be able to create this video for her.

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Alex in the garden.

Hi, I’m Alex. Bookbinder, storyteller, gardener, Mom, world traveler, egg-laying hen enthusiast, and founder of Transient Books, where every page holds a memory.

I’ve spent decades helping people turn their biggest moments into keepsakes that last a lifetime.

Around here, it’s about slowing down, creating with care, and giving with purpose.

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