In the picture above, my dear friend Carol Abrams, is second from the right dressed in black, with her husband Gerry, and I am next to her in red, with my husband Clive with me, and next to him our other dear friends, Anita and Mayer. We were celebrating 25 years of friendship – some 13 years ago.
On Sunday, June 3, 2012 Carol, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend, passed away at her home in Los Angeles. Carol was born in New York City on September 23, 1942. The daughter of Lee and Harry Kelvin, Carol attended Penn State University and graduated with honors. She married Gerald W. Abrams and had two children, J.J. and Tracy. While her children were attending school, Carol got her real estate license and sold properties in Bel Air and West Los Angeles. At the age of 39, Carol enrolled at Whittier College School of Law where she graduated first in her class. She eventually became a professor at Whittier, teaching for five years. Always looking for a new challenge, Carol became interested in film. She developed and was an executive producer of The Ernest Green Story for the Disney Channel, the story of forced integration at Central High in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1957. The film had its premiere at Central High and was introduced that night by President Elect Bill Clinton. One year later the film won a National Peabody Award.While Carol went on to produce other films, her attention then turned to writing. She co-authored two published books, Grandparents & Grandchildren and Teen Knitting Club. Carol was an accomplished knitter, pianist and painter and was a contributing artist for The Santa Barbara Art Museum. She spoke threelanguages. Carol is survived by her husband and children, son-in-law Jono Rosen and daughter-in-law Katie McGrath, five grandchildren (Henry, Gracie and AugustAbrams and Ross and Maya Rosen) and her sister, Joan Davidson. Services for Carol are private.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Carol Abrams Fund, attn.: KC Miller at the Johnnie L. Cochran, Jr. Brain Tumor Center, 8700 Beverly Blvd. Suite 2416, Los Angeles, California, 90048. I am featuring this charity today as my Philanthropy Friday – in honor of my dear friend.
Carol you will be with me every day for the rest of my life – as you have been every day for the past 38 years since we came to America and met you – you were my very first friend and introduced me to my other very dear friend Anita. You were the shining example to me of what could be achieved in this country – you made it look easy, with bubbly humor, brilliant turn of phrase, fun and love and happy times – while doing good for so many with your philanthropy ( silent and anonymous) and making joy with your talent. Rest in peace my dear friend with my love with you forever.
Thank you for your kind comment. It meant a lot to me. HOw kind of you to take the time.