ARNOWITZ, Rebecca Jill, born May 30, 1980, passed away after a lengthy bout of primary schlerosing colangitis, a liver disease. Her passion in life was ice skating. From age 11, when her papa and mom took her ice skating in New Jersey, she knew her calling. She never stopped skating. She taught many children and adults. Rebecca was not satisfied with just skating and teaching, so she pursued higher achievements. She went to conferences and took tests and became certified to judge events and achieved other certifications. Diagnosed in 2009, she had no daily issues. She and her partner, Bryan Silver, whom she loved and cared about so very much, started a family. Unfortunately, it exacerbated her disease and in August 2017, Jacob was born prematurely in order to save his and Rebecca's lives. Ironically, it saved neither. Jacob passed away seven weeks later. She went every week for labs and procedures and Rebecca was the most compliant patient. Rebecca was her own best advocate. She knew the purpose and dosage and issues associated with every drug she ever took and there were many. At home, with time on her hands when not in pain, Rebecca went about checking the expiration of every item in our house, from food to cleaning supplies to medical items. She kept in touch with her ice skating students even through her illness. When they tested for individual accomplishments, they sent "Coach Rebecca" their videos or called her. She was a part of their skating lives. There is no doubt that many young skaters have become better skaters and better people because they came in contact with Coach Rebecca! When it comes to family, Rebecca was totally involved. She loved her grams, her whole family and never missed a family holiday celebration in New Jersey. But the newest loves of her life were her nieces, Eliana Joy at 22 months and Julia Paige at eight months. A FaceTime with Ellie throwing a kiss to auntie Becca made her smile and having those girls in her lap was a pure joy for her. There is so much more to Rebecca Jill. People who knew her thought the world of her. She asked questions and got involved in people's lives. And never forgot those little details when she saw them again, which always made others feel good. She could devour lemons, limes and olives. She was a good person and the loss of her life is a tragic waste. Rebecca is survived by her grandmothers, Miriam Arnowitz and Diane Goldsmith; her parents, Deirdre and Stuart; her sister, Jennifer Rachlin (Kevin), her nieces, Eliana and Julia; her partner, Bryan Silver. She was very close to her aunts and uncles, Giants game with Uncle Alan and 500 rummy games with Uncle Larry and cousins. She had a close group of girlfriends, some of whom she has known since age two, who have been caring and supportive to the very end. The family wishes to shout to the world that the medical care at MCV and Johns Hopkins was incredible. The doctors, nurses, care partners and all levels of staff were caring, kind, tireless and committed to all they could do on behalf of Rebecca and her visitors. Their compassion and efforts could not have been any greater and we cannot thank them enough for that. In lieu of flowers, please consider the following charities, Johns Hopkins Children's Center, Attn: Alicia Cleaver, Development Office, 750 E. Pratt St., Ste., 1700, Baltimore, Md. 21202. Please write Perinatal Palliative Care, including a note indicating this in memory of Rebecca Arnowitz or the Hepatology Research Fund at Va. Commonwealth University at MVC Foundation, Box 980234, Richmond, Va. 23298, Attn: Brian Thomas Thank you for supporting these causes in the name of Rebecca Jill Arnowitz, a good person who had some really bad luck, but still loved the world! A graveside service will be held 11 a.m. Thursday at Richmond Jewish Cemetery at Greenwood. Shiva will be held at the home of Rebecca's parents on Thursday night at 7 p.m. and visitors welcomed Saturday night at 7 p.m.