Evelyn Rappaport Aronson

ARONSON, Evelyn Rappaport, 100, of Hillsdale, NJ, passed away on Friday, February 2nd, 2018. Evelyn is survived by her two sons, four grandsons, three great-grandchildren, many nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, admirers, and an immortal legacy of kindness, optimism, and love. Born on November 29th, 1917 to Hyman and Sarah (née Frak) Rappaport in Brooklyn, NY, Evelyn lead an extraordinary life on several continents. After marrying the noted ichthyologist Dr. Lester R. Aronson on September 26th, 1936, Evelyn and Lester moved from Brooklyn to Hillsdale, NJ in 1944. The loving, inseparable pair traveled throughout Europe, the Mediterranean, the Soviet Union, and Africa for five decades. Evelyn, Lester, and their two sons, Carl and Frederick, lived in Nigeria throughout 1953 and 1954 while Lester was conducting research to promote food security in West Africa. A lifelong bibliophile, Evelyn promoted literacy, scientific inquiry and advocated for human dignity. An avid skier, opera enthusiast, Scrabble and checkers player, and lover of the outdoors, Evelyn volunteered as a Cub Scout Den Leader, eventually becoming a proud grandparent to three Eagle Scouts. Born three years before women could vote, Evelyn drove a Model A Ford, sailed on the fabled Queen Mary, and lived through 18 US Presidents. Services held privately. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Museum of Natural History or the Hillsdale Free Public Library.