Sheila Abrams, local entertainment writer and president of the Friends of the Washington Twp. Library, dies

Sheila Adelman Abrams, 79, of Schooley’s Mountain, NJ, died peacefully at home on August 16.

She was born Sheila Louise Adelman in the Bronx, NY, March 3, 1938, the daughter of Max and Ida Hershkowitz Adelman. She lived in the Bronx, Manhattan and Brooklyn, NY, and Haverford Township, PA, before moving to Schooley’s Mountain in 1977.

She was a graduate of Hunter College High School, earned a B.A. from City College of New York, and held an M.L.S. from Pratt Institute Graduate School of Library and Information Science, Brooklyn, NY. She also completed graduate work in philosophy at the Graduate Faculty of the New School for Social Research, where she was an Alvin Johnson Fellow; and in education at Saint Joseph’s College in Philadelphia, PA.

Mrs. Abrams was a journalist. She was entertainment editor and staff writer for The Star-Gazette in Hackettstown, and managing editor of The Forum. She freelanced for many newspapers, including many of the Recorder Publishing papers and the New York Times, as an entertainment writer. She won numerous awards for writing from the New Hersey Press Association, the Society of Professional Journalists, and the Willard Allen Agricultural Communications Award from the New Jersey Agriculture Society.

In recent years, she was a member of the Long Valley Women’s Club, and President of the Friends of the Washington Township (Morris County) Public Library, where she developed and ran the Lifelong Learning program, which offered many educational, informative and entertaining programs. A general rather than a foot-soldier, she was capable of marshaling others to help develop funds for the library, and was exceedingly passionate about literacy and books. Years ago, she served a term on the West Morris Central High School Board of Education.

Mrs. Abrams was an avid animal lover and was active in the Pet Adoption League, Warren County. She also spent time involved with handicapped riding organizations throughout northern NJ.

She was a lifelong feminist and champion of women’s causes, and had served as a convenor for the Main Line (Pennsylvania) Chapter of the National Organization for Women. She served on several panels and committees seeking to eliminate sexism from text books and school curricula, and fought tirelessly to advance the equal Rights Amendment to the Constitution.

She is survived by her daughter, Anne Nadel-Walbridge and son-in-law Thomas Walbridge, both of Schooley’s Mountain, grand-daughters Holly Nadel of Schooley’s Mountain and Danya Nadel of Brooklyn, NY, step-children Gregory Walbridge and Daniel Walbridge, of Barre, VT, and Kaitlyn Walbridge, of Winston-Salem, NC, as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Mrs. Abrams is predeceased by her husband Bernard, and son Daniel.

A celebration of Sheila Abrams’ life will be held in the fall.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice Foundation or the Washington Township Public Library in Long Valley.