Category: Social Work, Civic and Philanthropy
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Mary Womble Spruel
1906-1988 Mary Womple Spruel was an early Black teacher, hired in 1945 (see Timeline, bottom of page here). Mary was born and raised in Montclair and taught for a total of 48 years, mostly in Newark. She had a masters and doctorate of education from Rutgers. Mary received the Essex County Distinguished Service Award from the…
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Bertha Lewit Rosenthal
1891-1957 Bertha was an early College of Pharmacy graduate in 1909, “one of the youngest graduates of the college”. Only one other woman graduated that year, though the first woman graduates were in 1901 there were still very few. Bertha was born in Newark and lived at 521 18th Avenue in 1916 when she married…
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Sarah Elizabeth Collins Houston
1895-1986 Sarah Elizabeth Collins Houston (usually went by Elizabeth, possibly because her mother was also Sarah Elizabeth) was the grandmother of Whitney Houston. She was born in California in 1896 but lived in Newark on Beach St by the time she was 14. Her father was minister at St. James AME Church. Elizabeth graduated from…
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Grizel Ubarry
1953- Grizel Ubarry served as director of ASPIRA in Newark from 1976 to 1982, starting when she was just 24. She served as director of the Division of Community Development for Essex County from 1983-1985. She then became a consultant, as president of G. Ubarry Inc. As a consultant, she has worked with non-profit organizations,…
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Sister Carol Patricia Johnston
1944-2013 Sister Carol was born and raised in Newark and attended St. Vincent’s Academy, becoming a Sister of Charity in 1962. She was Director of the Women and Family Program at St. Columba Neighbor Club, Newark. She was project and planning Director for Ironbound Community Corporation. A boulder honoring Sister Carol in Riverfront Park says,…
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Sister Deborah Humphreys
1950-2024 In 1975, Deborah Humphreys founded and served as executive director (1975-1980) of El Club Del Barrio( St. Columba Neighborhood Club) in Newark. It worked to prevent eviction, repair housing, and enforce tenant rights, as well as other social services. After founding El Club Del Barrio, Deborah worked as a Legislative Aide for Senator Lipman…
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Marleny Franco
1955- Marleny Franco is the founder of the Greater Newark Conservancy. She was executive director of the Conservancy for many years. She was previously director of the Rutgers Urban Gardening Program in Newark. Marleny was born in Colombia. She lived in Newark from the early 1980s to about 2000. She came to Newark, after attending…
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Sarah Schloss
1838-1924 Sarah Schloss was president of the Frauen Verein Naechstenliebe or Friendly Sisters which was a leading Hebrew charitable organization in Newark for 38 years. She was named an honorary life member and honorary president of the organization and the oldest member as of 1910, having been a member for 48 years. Sarah lived in…