Most students living on Livingston Avenue handle the infamous Syracuse winters by simply turning up their thermostat.

This is not an option for their neighbor, Lenora Monkemeyer, who lives at 717-719 Livingston Avenue, only minutes from the Syracuse University campus.

Unlike the students who live around her, she has lived without water, heat and electricity for more than two years.

“It doesn’t bother me too much,” said Monkemeyer, a ’73 Syracuse University alumna. “I’ve learned to make the best of the situation.”

When Alexandra Figueroa, a senior international relations and anthropology double major, first saw Monkemeyer’s home on her street, she thought it was abandoned.

“I have seen Lenora on campus since my freshman year — walking on campus, sitting on the bus to keep warm or attending lectures,” Figueroa said. “I didn’t realize she lived right in our neighborhood or how bad the conditions were until this semester.”

Figueroa, with her two roommates Stephanie Breed and Melaina Reney, knew they had to help.

Together they organized a donation drive in mid-October to help collect supplies such as food, blankets, cat food, hand warmers and other miscellaneous items to be delivered to Monkemeyer on Nov. 1.

“We really want to do whatever we can to help her. She is our neighbor,” said Reney, a senior history and education double major. “I don’t think most students on campus are aware of Lenora’s situation.”
With no access to utilities, Monkemeyer is in need of a variety of supplies. She has become very resourceful with a multitude of strategies to keep warm and healthy during the coldest months.

“It is simple really — all you have to do is wear thick layers and bundle up,” she said.

Beyond just adding extra layers, Monkemeyer has worked hard to insulate her house from the notorious Syracuse winters.

She puts layers of plastic and translucent contact paper over the windows and plugs up any draft holes with excess pieces of rug liner.

“One advantage of not having heat is the fresh air quality in the house,” she said. “Although, the hardest part can be the darkness.”

Monkemeyer said she is not worried about living without heat for another winter; she often stays with local friends if the temperatures drop too low.

She currently lives with her niece, Maureen Monkemeyer, the daughter of her brother who also shared the home for several years until his death in 2012.

Monkemeyer and her niece have shared many memories since Maureen was a young girl, even traveling to France together to see Versailles.

Monkemeyer’s father, Herbert, was the original owner of the house on Livingston Avenue and allowed his daughter to stay there during her collegiate years. Monkemeyer has called Livingston Avenue home ever since.

“I love being near campus. All the students are very interesting and have so many different majors and are great fun to talk to,” said Monkemeyer, who graduated SU with a degree in music.

After college, Monkemeyer used her 20 years of dance training to teach ballet and piano lessons at the Metropolitan School of Arts in Syracuse and for the local community. She also worked as organist at a local church. But injuries to her arm and ankle forced her to give up both jobs several years ago.

Monkemeyer has received support in the past from SU students, such as Maisha Baddoo, an ‘09 alumna who helped raise $5,600 dollars to prevent the City of Syracuse from seizing her house due to back taxes.

Growing up in the 1940s has made Monkemeyer very resourceful and somewhat set in her ways, said Baddoo.

“SU is her life. She loves Syracuse,” Baddoo said. “Even though her situation is depressing, she is committed to living here. She has a rare vitality.”

When Baddoo met Monkemeyer, her house had not fallen into such bad conditions, however once a leak in the roof was discovered, the maintenance of the house fell to the wayside. Water damage contributed to the house’s disrepair as bills piled up and went unpaid.

Monkemeyer said the most recent repair estimate was approximately $22,000.

Mišo Suchý, a trans-media professor in the College of Visual and Performance Arts, said he hopes the SU community will be motivated to utilize the available resources to assist Monkemeyer. Suchý has known Monkemeyer for two years and has helped her out in the past.

“The university has so many resources, from the law school to health services to the social work department to various student organizations,” Suchý said. “If the campus can become inspired, it could make a significant difference for Lenora.”

Whether it’s legal services, assistance in rebuilding her roof or helping organize her financial obligations, Suchý said he believes the SU campus has the potential to make a big difference in the life of a former alumna and SU community member.

Donations for Monkemeyer are being accepted at 706 Livingston Ave. throughout October and will be delivered on Nov. 1.

Monkemeyer said she cannot accept some donations because she does not eat food containing dyes, white flour or meat. Her lifestyle is very focused on sustainable and organic eating.

Breed, one of the organizers of the donation drive for Monkemeyer, said supporting Monkemeyer goes beyond just donating money or food.

“Just stopping by Lenora’s house, talking and listening to her stories can make a huge difference as well,” Breed said.

This sentimentality is what motivated her neighbors to start the donation drive.

“There has been a lot of activism on campus this semester; we have spent a lot of time talking about ourselves. We should start talking about what is around us,” Figueroa said. “We should stand up for doing things within the community, so why not start right next door?”

Published on October 22, 2014 at 12:01 am

Contact Jen: jbundy@syr.edu