Adele G. Espo

She was the wife of the late Harlan Joel Espo. They met when they were eight years old and had been married 44 years at the time of his death in 1990. She was the daughter of the late Alfred J. and Eve (Medoff) Goldberg. Born in Woonsocket, R.I., she lived in Springfield, Mass. with her family until they moved to Rhode Island in 1939. Adele graduated from Pawtucket West High School and received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Early Childhood Education and Child Psychology from the University of Rhode Island, then called Rhode Island State College, in 1946. Twenty-five years later she returned to school and earned a Master's Degree in Special Education/Learning Disabilities from what was then Rhode Island College. She taught in the Pawtucket School System for two years, at the Jewish Community Nursery School when it was on Benefit Street, then in the Providence Public school system, all in the elementary grades. She then taught at the Moses Brown School in Providence mornings and the Windmill Street School afternoons in the school year 1947/48. Beginning the fall of 1948, she taught elementary school full-time at Moses Brown for 36 years. She left in 1984 to move to West Palm Beach, Fla., with her husband. She continued her teaching career at Saint Joseph’s School in Boynton Beach, Fla. until her retirement in 1991. Following that, she continued substitute teaching and tutoring for several years.

She was active in her condominium association, serving on the board for more than a decade, including more than six years as president. She volunteered at The Kravis Cultural Arts Center in West Palm Beach for 28 years, including 11 years as head usher; and The American Lung Association and Palm Beach Drama Works. She was a member of educational and reading organizations for over 40 years.

While in Providence, she and her husband were members of The Jewish Community Center, where Harlan served as president. Adele belonged to the sisterhood at Temple Emanu-El and was a life member of Hadassah. After moving to Florida, she was a member of Temple Beth El in West Palm Beach, where she volunteered for 20 years.

She leaves four children: David M. Espo (Andi Kasarsky), of Arlington Va; Caryn S. Espo (David Gold), of Los Angeles; Hal Espo (Ree DeDonato), of New York City; and Joseph B. Espo of Catonsville, Md. Grandchildren include Rachel S. Stacy (Brad Stacy), Shira Rose Espo, Joshua Harlan Espo, Daniel Harlan Espo and Hannah Claire Espo; and one great grandchild, Eva Stacy. She is predeceased by her sister Sybil G. Shapiro of New York. She leaves many nieces, nephews, cousins and godchildren.

The funeral will be held Sunday, July 12, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Sugarman-Sinai Memorial Chapel, 458 Hope Street, Providence. Burial will follow in B’Nai Israel Cemetery 1965 Mendon Road, Woonsocket. Shiva details are pending.

For those who wish, donations may be made to the Harlan J. Espo Fund at the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island (formerly the Jewish Community Center), at 401 Elmgrove Ave., Providence RI 02906; the Alfred J. and Eve Medoff Goldberg Fund at Temple Emanu-El at 99 Taft Ave., Providence, RI 02906; or the organization of your choosing.