Obituary of Miriam Willinger

Miriam Willinger, 100, Obituary

Miriam Willinger was born on August 15, 1921, in The Bronx, New York City, graduated from Hunter College in 1943 with a B.A. in Biology and Education, and received a Master’s Degree in Student Personnel Services from Montclair State University in 1968. 

She taught science in NYC high schools until marriage in 1948 brought her to Dover, NJ.  While raising her children, she was a Den Mother, President of the East Dover Elementary School PTA, Treasurer and Social Action Chair of the Adath Israel Synagogue Sisterhood in Dover, and Chair of the organizing committee of Lakeland Community Concerts in Dover.

After the children were in school, she returned to teaching and decided to go into counseling, attending Columbia University and Montclair State University.  Mrs. Willinger was a school counselor at Copeland Middle School, Rockaway Township, for 24 years from 1968-1992.  She was a charter member of the NJ Counseling Association’s Specialists in Group Work which she practiced extensively at Copeland.

She was a member of the NEA, NJEA, Morris County Retired Educators Association, College Club of Dover, and Brandeis University Women’s Club.  She was a life member of Hadassah and the West Morris Branch of the National Council of Jewish Women where she was active on the Diversity Committee.  She was a member of NOW, the ACLU, the Southern Poverty Law Center, and numerous humane societies and environmental groups.

After retirement, she volunteered at the Morris Museum and the Auxiliary at Dover General Hospital where she was a buyer for the gift shop.  As an active member of the NJ Chrysanthemum Society, she earned many blue ribbons and silver trophies at their flower shows.  She was a Certified Judge of the National Chrysanthemum Society and served as President of the NJ Society in 2007.  She was also active in book groups and bridge groups.

She was predeceased by her parents Abraham Harry Hammer and Mollie Sass, her brothers Arthur and Joseph and sister Sylvia Levine, and her husband Henry Willinger.  She is survived by her sons Allan (Jo Schlesinger) and Richard, daughter Judy (Robert Luke), and grandson Alex, nieces Harriet Copel, Phyllis Newman, Joan Dreben and Dr. Adele Strominger and nephew Leonard Epstein.

Graveside Service 1:30 PM, Sunday, December 5, 2021, at Dover Mt. Sinai Cemetery, 228 Chrystal St.,​Randolph, NJ 07869

Memorial contributions may be made to any of the above organizations or to the charity of your choice.