Diane Agate Dies

Ari L. NoonanNews24 Comments

Kate and Diane

[Editor’s Note: Following Jewish law, Mr. Noonan will be sitting shiva for the week following his wife’s death and burial. He will be receiving visitors at the family home, 18721 Hatteras St., No. 12, Tarzana.]

Diane Joyce Agate, wife of the publisher of thefrontpageonline.com, Ari L. Noonan, died peacefully at home Friday evening at 6:30, her family and friends surrounding her bedside. She was 69 years old.

Diagnosed 16 months ago with ALS, Lou Gehrig’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, she went into the hospital Saturday, Aug. 8, with severe discomfort. She was released Wednesday afternoon and came home to a hospice setting.

Lucid in a restrained manner on Wednesday and Thursday, she conversed briefly with her four children on Friday morning before withdrawing into a semi-conscious state for her final 11 hours.

Burial service was Sunday at Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks Memorial Park, Westlake Village.

Disarmingly self-effacing, family and friends concurred that Ms. Agate never accepted the wide horizons of her unyielding grasp of all matters medical, both pragmatic and arcane, of her beauty, of her physical and mental capacities.

She would dress in a classically stylish manner, never to attract attention, which would have embarrassed her.

An extraordinarily popular nurse practitioner with the VA — both with the veterans and her co-workers — her final job easily was the happiest posting of Ms. Agate’s lengthy career in nursing. “I love my veterans,” she often would say.

This is how two-way her relationship with them was:

A number, perhaps a dozen, proposed to her over the years, even though the veterans knew she was married.

After graduating from Washington University, St. Louis,  in 1967, she moved to New York City and worked at NYU Bellvue Hospital. In 1971, driving solo across the country, she moved to Los Angeles.

Ms. Agate was a medical scholar – her intimate, specific knowledge ranging far beyond her chosen fields of study.

When she became ill, this could have been perceived as a negative,. Meticulously and relentlessly, she self-diagnosed and projected the utcome of her conditiononce her amyotrophic lateral sclerosis became official.

She first detected signals of the incurable disease that destroys motor neurons in December 2012. Mysteriously, her abdomen had begun to protrude slightly at first, then greater.

 

How could this be, she wondered, when she always had taken care of her own body?

A loyal fan of gym workouts, she went three days a week, including two weekday mornings when she arose uncomfortably early.

This devotion to maintaining her body internally and externally led to puzzlement and shock when her ALS was diagnosed.

From the time the symptoms surfaced until the diagnosis became official, she pursued months of fruitless consultations with doctors.  That is, they acknowledged there was a problem. They did not know what, but they were confident it was not ALS, her suspicion from the start.

In early 2014, following a series of negative but not conclusive analyses by doctors, including neurosurgeons, she consulted in late March with a neurosurgeon at Kaiser Sunset.

That doctor said she was 95 percent certain the symptoms showed ALS. The doctor wanted one more opinion.

That came at 4 o’clock on Tuesday, April 8, last year. Coldly, the doctor said: “You’ve got it.”

Ms. Agate’s remarkable response was brilliant:

“I am not angry. But my heart is broken.”

The neurosurgeon estimated life expectancy at 12 to 18 months.  Precisely 16 months later, Ms. Agate entered the hospital for the final time. Six days later, she was dead.

Not just devoted, Ms. Agate was a deeply devout caretaker of her family and her patients. From an early age,  she dedicated her life to fastidiously attending to, caring for, healing, others.

Until the ALS diagnosis, that forced her to retire last Dec. 31, she had planned to work at the VA three to five more years. Her coworkers and veterans were saddened by her premature retirement. Virtually all of her colleagues streamed into the family home on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

A native of Chicago who spent the second half of her childhood in Waukegan, IL, she was struck down with hepatitis at 10 years old. She was sidelined for a year from school. While recuperating at home and studying with a tutor, she finalized her decision to be a nurse.

A graduate of Waukegan High School, Washington University, St. Louis, and later UCLA to launch her nurse practitioner career, she brought previously undreamed of peace and fulfillment to thousands of patients.

Born Oct. 4, 1945, to Betty and Sanford Agate, she attended public school and Hebrew school in her formative years. For the past 32 years, Ms. Agate has been a member of the Chabad of the Valley synagogue, Burbank Boulevard, Tarzana.

In addition to her husband,  Mr. Noonan, Ms. Agate is survived by four children, Lauren of West Hollywood, Nora of Westwood, Jamie of Jerusalem, and Sanda of Portland, OR, six grandchildren – Gabriel Kahlil Villar, Maya Nechama Stein, Noam Yisroel Stein, Shalom Reuven Stein, Eliora Malka Stein, and Samuel D. Hibbard – her brother Jeff of Appleton, WI, Leonard Stein, the father of her children, and Lizzy, her former sister-in-law.

24 Comments on “Diane Agate Dies”

  1. Dan O'Brien

    So sorry to read this news, Ari. Your journals of Diane’s and your journey have been touchingly painful to read. I pray that she is at peace. God bless.

  2. Judy Scott

    Tears Ari. I will come to visit and to mourn with you. The luckiest of us had the best. The unluckiest outlived them. From Paul Simon’s excellent song: “preserve you memories, they’re all that left you.” I know you have many wonderful memories.

  3. Romanitchiko Samiley

    I worked with Diane in WLA HBPC for a very short time, and spent some time with her driving around LA as I was passing my patients onto her because I was transferring back to my former clinic. One of my fondest and lasting memory of her during our drive was her informal lessons on Jewish tradition. There was always a Jewish word for something, and she wanted me to learn them and explain them to me, even though I’m Filipino. These sometimes long drives because of traffic didn’t seem so long because she kept me entertained. I will keep Diane and your family in my prayers.

  4. shelly

    I am very sad to hear of Diane’s passing. She was a very dear colleague who was also involved with California Association for Nurse Practitioners where she was active in attending monthly presentations.
    She was THE voice of experience managing very difficult nursing home patients. She was an expert clinician, consultant, and a mentor for many of our NP students

    She will be missed!!
    Shelly de Peralta

  5. Alan Elmont

    My heart reaches out to you at this sorrowful time. May her memory be a constant blessing.

    B’Shalom
    Alan

  6. Jeannine Wisnosky Stehlin

    Ari,

    Please accept my heartfelt condolences. I did not get a chance to meet Diane in person, but through your writings, I feel as if I knew her a little bit. An extraordinary life. Thank you for sharing her with us. May the memories of Diane help you find peace.

  7. Madeline Ehrlich

    Ari,

    We send our deepest condolences your way. So hard to lose the love of your life.
    We feel your pain.
    May the wonderful memories of the life you had with Diane comfort you in the months ahead.
    Madeline and Paul

  8. Daphne Wright

    Her commitment and dedication will be missed. Prayers to you and your family. Our deepest condolences.

    Daphne Wright and Gloria Mejia
    Department of Medicine, WLA Medical Center

  9. Elissa

    So sorry about your loss. Diane was quite special, and I know she leaves many fond memories and legacy with you and family.
    We got to work together on several cases, home visiting pt’s together. We had an immediate connection, my being from Chicago, and having attended Washington U as well, being advanced practice nurses, and sharing the Jewish traditions.
    We did talk when she told me of her diagnosis, and I tried to connect her with another friend who had ALS, and with some studies.
    I am glad she seems to have died blessfully, peacefully.
    My sincere sympathy.
    Elissa Brown

  10. Margaret Madumere

    Grieving the loss of a dear friend. When I was spending that Friday afternoon with Diane just a week prior to her exit little did I know it will be my last laughter and best times with Diane. We giggled like girls and I brought out the Diane in you;the Diane I know and the Diane I will always cherish. We had 4 most wonderful hours catching up with happenings and spent the most wonderful time together. You couldn’t stop talking, asking questions like you always do, sharing your latest You tube video downloads, sharing the challenges of your illness, the family gatherings and visitors who have come by to see you and latest the pictures I might have missed, to make sure I am up to date with the happenings around you. It was a memorable visit. We were supposed to go out to lunch short that we changed plans due to delay from our friend who was running late. You were lively and entertaining and your caregiver and Ari commented on your demeanor with our visit. I kissed you goodbye at 5pm and promised to see you next week however my next visit was a polar opposite . I had the hardest week, all sorts of emotions went through my head and before I knew it, you faded before my eyes- within a week. I couldn’t hold you back. I tried, but you were ready , like the rest I had to let go. Goodbye my friend, who keeps me in a lighter mood with unintentional jokes, the one who erased my fear of Psych. We rode through various tides together often spending more time with each other than with our families because of the nature of our work. You were loved by all who encountered you and I am at peace knowing that you left behind a beautiful family to carry on your legacy. Goodbye my inspirational friend who affirms me and brings out the best in me. I am still sore , although you reassured and prepared me a lot for this time I wasn’t ready but I have let go and let it be.

  11. Janice Hagen rn

    Diane took care of my cousin David. Such a wonderful person she was! David and I think the world of her!

  12. Ross Hawkins

    Ari, I am so sorry for your loss. I only met Diane once but talked to her on the phone when I called you at home.
    From everything you’ve told me and my brief meeting with her, she was a wonderful person. My prayers go out for you
    Ari.

    Ross

  13. Robert Rosebrock

    Hi Ari

    My sincere condolences on the passing of Diane …. what a beautiful woman and what a wonderful life you shared together. She was as lucky as you in having the perfect mate.

    In all sincerity, I’ve never known anyone who was 100% devoted to his spouse as well as equally 100% devoted to his profession — you are that rare two-hundred-percenter in life — and I so admire you.

    Stay well,
    Bob

  14. Gunilla Breniser

    I went to high school with Diane, and it is a loss for our class of ’63. How I wish I had kept in touch with her as an adult. Ari, your writings of her are beautiful and so full of love. Thank you for letting us in on what a blessing she has been to so many. I’m so glad you found each other, and I pray God’s peace for you.

  15. Janet and Charley Hoult

    Dear Ari, We learned of Diane’s passing at the City Council meeting on Monday. You both have been in our prayers as you have gone through the struggles of dealing with ALS. Your strength has been an inspiration as has the journal you shared with us. Our love, thoughts and prayers are with you.

  16. Alfred Frazier

    Ms. Agate has left an imprint on our hearts and we will alway be grateful that God sent an angel to earth to look after others in need. We are deeply sorry for your loss! Her legacy will live on and be shared by those who are left behind to miss this wonderful woman.

    Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

    Respectfully and Gratefully,

    Alfred Frazier & Kenya Frazier
    (Vet. Korean War) (Daughter)

  17. robyn cuevas

    Ari, I was so saddened to hear of Diane’s loss. I knew Diane from Waukegan… from about 12 years old. I used to be lucky enough to have “free” milkshakes and fries from McDonalds when her Dad became the first owner of a site on Lewis Ave. Later, she lived on Berwick Ave. not far from our high school and my old neighborhood. I am a long time friend of Judi Landfield and came to know Diane better thru Judi. I saw her last at our 25th high school reunion and was lucky enough to get a nice picture of the two of us together. Last year, in August, I spoke to her after her recent diagnosis. Judi was visiting me and we called her.

    I’m so sorry for your loss. She was a lovely, down to earth and very pragmatic person… just said it like it was! She had a wonderful smile and infectious laugh. I’m sorry we didn’t keep in touch over the years but I will always remember Diane with affection and respect.
    God Bless you and the family as you try to make sense of her disease and loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you during a very difficult time. She must have made you very happy and your heart will be filled with love and many memories to help you in your sorrow. Sincerely, Robyn Cuevas (Procek)

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