Short Hills Obituary: Sylvia Alles

SHORT HILS, NJ — The following obituary comes courtesy of a Patch community member. Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com

Sylvia Alles passed away Good Friday, April 3, 2026. She led a life that exemplified the value of honesty, responsibility and pursuit of the seemingly impossible. She was predeceased by her parents, James and Stephanie Alles, her brother James and her sister Rita. Born March 13, 1939 in Chicago, she was an Alles girl. Shortly after graduation from Reavis High School, she moved out on her own into a “girls club.” She met her lifelong friend Nancy and began her advertising career.

In the 1960’s, she moved to NYC and became an eternal New Yorker. At Smith Greenland, she met lifelong friends Jeanne and the late Beryl. An original Mad woman, she not only cultivated her career but also traveled and met her children’s father the late Peter Politis. Wanting the best education for her children, they moved to Short Hills, NJ. She made holidays magical, hand sewn her children’s costumes and created memories with vacations, shopping and other excursions.

In the late 1990’s, she embraced the new world wide web, landing a successful ad campaign which led up to her retirement in Bedminster, NJ. For 20 years, she travelled most of Europe as well as Russia and Australia. But mostly she found herself embracing the culture of NYC, often bringing along her family and friends. During this time, she became a wise mentor to her family. Her children called her daily; her wise words remain. At the start of the pandemic, bucking the trend again, she realized the suburbs weren’t for her, and moved back to the city of her heart, New York

She is survived by her children James (Christine), and Kristina(Joe); her siblings Kenny (Rosemarie), Nikki (Mike) and Nessa; her grandsons Sean and James (Sara), her great grandchildren as well as cousins, nieces and nephews including her Goddaughter Jane Marie.

Sylvia Alles was a supporter of:

Doctors without Borders Médecins Sans Frontières USA, Inc.

40 Rector St., 16th Floor

New York, NY 10006 US

https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/get-involved/ways-to-give