Social Security Death Index
Name: Rita Mazingo
SSN: 531-34-9058
Last Residence: 98112 Seattle, King, Washington, United States of America
Born: 7 Aug 1921
Died: 31 Mar 1997
State (Year) SSN issued: Washington (1952-1954 )

The Seattle Times (Seattle, WA) (April 6, 1997): pB4. (450 words)
Rita Janklowitz Mazingo was a designing woman.

Not only did she once sketch and sew Paris fashions, but in recent years she helped reshape the life of a nephew who was an ex-convict, now a successful stand-up comic.

"She saved my life and helped me become a man," said Rico Thomas of Seattle.

"I was released from prison for a first-degree robbery beef. I was using (drugs), living on the street. One day I found a quarter and called my aunt because I wanted to take a bath. She wouldn't take me in because I once stole her checkbook. But when she finally did, she backed me all the way . . . and cleaned up my act."

Mrs. Mazingo died of cancer Monday (March 31). She was 75.

Born in Hamburg to a Jewish-German family, she was interned in a concentration camp before negotiating her release in 1936. Immediately she went to London to work in a military-intelligence office.

After World War II she became a seamstress for a fashion house that sent her to Paris to sketch big-name designs, including Christian Dior's "New Look" (wasp waists, long skirts). She brought the sketches back to England where local designers copied the creations for private clients and the public.

In 1951 she emigrated to New York, then Seattle, to clerk at the old Rhodes department store.

Bored with sales, the lively young woman became a librarian with Seattle Public Library. In the early 1960s she began driving the popular bookmobile, delivering books throughout the Seattle area, particularly to shut-ins and residents of nursing homes.

She worked for the library nearly 35 years, retiring in 1989.

"I thought her driving the bookmobile was so cool," Thomas said. "She told a lot of stories. There was one elder lady living in a shack in Kirkland that she delivered to that had about 60 cats."

"Aunt Rita was a very forward thinker," said Thomas. "She was way ahead of her time, and read voraciously - books by Chaim Potok, Gore Vidal, Jimmy Breslin."

She could debate nearly any issue. She argued often with Thomas, seeming to lecture him for the fun of it.

"She made me so mad. I found out later she was doing it on purpose, that there were lessons for me, and they made me what I am," he said.

"At the end she told me she was so proud. And she did something she'd never done: She kissed me."

Mrs. Mazingo has no other survivors. Her husband, James Mazingo, died in 1980. But she leaves behind many friends and caregivers.

A private memorial is planned. Donations may go to Northgate Rehabilitation Center, 10509 Stone Ave. N., Seattle, WA, 98133.