Corinne Edwards Shulman

On September 1, 2020, Corinne “Corky” Ruth Edwards Lewis Lederer Shulman passed peacefully in her sleep in Kaneohe, Hawai’i. As her long name suggests, there was much that was beyond and even better than peaceful to her life.

She was called “Corky” or simply “Cork” by most that knew and loved her. Corinne was the beautiful name her parents had given her upon her birth on April 21, 1926 -- the same exact date as that of the current Queen of England. Perhaps this was partly why she matured with an almost royal beauty that both drew people to her and put them off. However, any lack of approachfulness one had upon encountering the breathtaking Corinne, was quickly dispensed with when Corky simply came up to meet you. Corky was not born in the Hawaiian Islands, nor does she have an ounce of Polyniesian ancestry. Yet she was born with an aloha in her nature that always welcomed you. O’ahu came to be her true home.

She was born to Wilbur and Ruth Edwards in Lynbrook on Long Island in New York. In 1948 she graduated first in her class at Hood College after having received a 4-year scholarship.

Corky studied actuarial sciences in NYC where she met and married Paul (Ken) Lewis, a graduate of Kings Point Merchant Marine Academy who was born and raised in Crystal Springs, Mississippi. When Ken re-enlisted in the US Navy, Pearl Harbor, the Submarine Force became home. Admiral George Russell and Charles Momson were friends and mentors.

In 1955, the Lewises bought “The Pearl Harbor Pennysaver” with Ken’s mustering out pay of $1000 and moved to Niu Valley, on O’ahu. Son Paul (1951) and daughter Kim (1953) were joined by son Kevin that year and daughter Kyle in 1957.

Supported by a hui of friends, the Pennysaver morphed into The Honolulu Beacon Magazine while Ken began a career with Castle & Cooke Terminals where he ultimately became C.E.O.

In 1961 Corky was honored as “Media Man of the Year” and the Beacon ultimately became Honolulu Magazine. The Lewises moved to Portlock Road where bonds were made by Corky, Ken and the children that live on to this day.

Corky remarried in 1965 to author William Lederer and eventually settled in Peacham, Vermont. Her kids recall selling the idea to their fellow pre-teens that they’d come to Vermont by outrigger and had never seen a television before moving to the Mainland.

From 1971 to 1977 Corky obtained a Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Vermont and became the Director of Counseling at Champlain College.

When Corky and Bill Lederer divorced, ties to Hawai’i brought Corky back to Honolulu. In 1978, working for the non-profit Hawai’i Health Net, she met Nat Shulman, writer, speaker, car-dealer par-excellence and partner for the next 31 years, until Nat’s passing in 2009. Together they supported “Youth At Risk” programs and also “Dances of Universal Peace.” They sang in the Honolulu Chorale, joined Windward Unity Church, and belonged to the Outrigger Canoe Club and Kaneohe Yacht Club.

Corky was an avid reader, puzzler and gamer. Bridge, jigsaws, scrabble and the NY Times crosswords were favorites. She could spend literally hours playing Russian Bank over and over and pity you if you were the opponent -- she was good!

She also had a passion for endless furniture rearrangement and room makeovers. Cohabitants quickly learned resistance was futile and besides, resulting changes were always better, even if you could no longer find your favorite full-living room set.

Corky’s ohana, who lovingly called her Gammy, will miss her game-playing, book-reading, musical-chair-making soul dearly. She was pre-deceased by her son Dr. Paul Lewis, and is survived by brother Nelson Edwards and his wife Pirkko, children Kim Tomey, Kevin Lewis and Kyle Pyuen; daughters-in-law Chris Lewis and Lorrie Lewis; step-children Brian, Jonathan, and Bruce Lederer and Ron, Karen and Scott Shulman; grandchildren Arion Arquette, Maile Little, Hayley Pyuen, Reid Lewis, Alex Pyuen, Alexandra Lewis, and Mia Lewis; and by great-grandchildren Kayleigh Arquette, Kaleesi and Winter Little and her faithful, loving companion chihuahua, Tiberius.

At this time there is no plan for a service or memorial, yet the family will find a way to celebrate the life of Corinne Edwards Shulman appropriately at some future date and in some fashion that would be true to Corinne.

Meanwhile, in lieu of flowers, you may make donations to Dances of Universal Peace or World Wildlife Fund.

Condolences can be emailed to Kevin Lewis at [email protected] or mailed to Kim Tomey at 44-315 Kāneʻohe Bay Drive, Kāneʻohe, HI 96744.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.BorthwickOahu.com for the Shulman family.