Shirley Gordon Romney

Shirley Romney (nee Gordon) died at her home at The Osborn in Rye, NY at the age of 92 on July 11th, 2015. Born in Boston on her father’s birthday, October 22, 1922, she was the first-born daughter of Simeon Leo Gordon and Gertrude Gordon (nee Dana).

Shirley had a wonderful childhood with her younger sister Ruth and a close-knit extended family that lived nearby in her Chestnut Hill neighborhood. After graduating Brookline High School in1940 she attended Wellesley College where she studied social work and graduated in 1944. While there she met Seymour (Cy) Romney on a blind date that was the beginning of her first, last and only true love for almost 65 years. They were married in Boston in November, 1945.

Shirley had a full, satisfying, and productive life that included family, community and political involvement, diverse friendships, and more. She was a devoted daughter to her parents; loving mother to Ben (and his partner, Ginger Benlifer), Dana, and Anne Romney (and her husband, Tim Hayes); sister to Ruth Koblenzer; grandparent to Stephen (and his wife Amanda), Aaron (and his wife, Wendy), Elizabeth Romney, and Torin Hayes; great grandparent to Jenna, Sarah and Owen Romney; and a beloved aunt and cousin to many.

Shirley was active in the League of Women Voters where she served as president of the Westchester chapter. For over 35 years, she worked as the co-director of Human Services for the Village of Mamaroneck, the community where she enjoyed living and raised her family. In that capacity Shirley was loved and respected by her colleagues and clients. She was a tireless worker who believed in making a difference and helping others. As such she touched and helped the lives of many people.

Fully aware of her own good fortune Shirley was a life-long philanthropist to a wide range of organizations. Liberal and humanitarian in her thinking, Shirley’s open-mindedness was often well ahead of the prevailing opinions of her time. Throughout her life, she was actively concerned with current affairs, human rights, and the world around her.

After contracting polio in her twenties Shirley was left with mild muscular weakness that for most of her life caused only minor difficulty walking. In her later years this unfortunately progressed to a serious disability that first required a walker and ultimately confined her to a wheelchair. In the face of this and other physical challenges she manifested degrees of courage, determination, strength of character, and a desire to live life to the fullest that were truly remarkable and a source of inspiration to all who knew her.

She is pre-deceased by her husband, Seymour and her son, Dana. Surviving family and friends feel lucky that she was a part of their lives and are grateful that she can finally be at peace. She will be remembered for her kindness, grace, strength, determination, generosity and enduring love.

Services will be held at Levine Chapels, 470 Harvard St., Brookline on Sunday, July 19 at 11:00am. Burial in Adath Jeshurun Cemetery, 350 Grove St., West Roxbury.

Memorial observance following the burial at the home of Ellen Cohen until 4:00pm. In lieu of flowers remembrances may be made to Macular Degeneration Association; https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/macularhope or Washingtonville Housing Alliance; www.washingtonville.org