Shirley's Run and Dog Walk

My Million Dollar Mom

My Million Dollar Mom is an uplifting true story of a lifetime of sacrifice and caring between a mother, Shirley and her son Ross

About Shirley Schriftman

Original artwork by April Zay of Hummingbird arts
www.hummingbird-arts.com

milliondollarmom.jpg Shirley Schriftman was born in Springfield, MA in 1925. From an early age she had a great love of animals. Her favorite childhood book was Mr. Jolly’s Hotel for Dogs. She decided that when she grew up she would rescue animals. During her long life she had many dogs and several cats that were her companions.

Shirley lived on Dillon Road in Maple Glen, PA and died peacefully at her home on Saturday morning, October 10, 2009. She had suffered from Alzheimer’s disease.

During her 84 year life, Mrs. Schriftman had many achievements. She grew up in Brookline, MA. During World War II she was a Spanish translator for the State Department. She was a USO Hostess and visited wounded soldiers at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C. She married Herbert Schriftman of Brooklyn, NY and they raised four sons; Roy, Ross, Lee and Barry whom she was very proud of. She also was a grandmother six times and a great grandmother four times.

During her working career she was Assistant to the Dean of College Affairs at Temple University, a foreign language aide at the North Campus of Abington High School and a documentation specialist for Univac Corporation. Her interest in language led her to teach Adult Education courses at Upper Dublin High School and English as a Second Language to immigrants to the United States. She was also active in International Training in Communications at Univac.

Mrs. Schriftman was politically active as well serving as a Democratic Committeewoman in Upper Dublin for many years. In 1975 she ran for District Justice and nearly got elected.

She became active in Parents Without Partners and organized the Bucks/Mont Chapter. She was active in her Synagogue and chaired efforts to get the release of Jews from the Soviet Union and helped them settle in the Philadelphia area.

Mrs. Schriftman loved dancing, singing, flowers, children, her family and her animals. After the Katrina Hurricane, she adopted an abandoned dog and blind cat. She was a movie buff with a large collection which she spent cataloging in her later years.

Shirley Schriftman was also a big supporter of running attending many races that her sons Ross and Lee participated in over the years.

picture This image is of Mrs. Schriftman with her son Ross at the Ambler Area Runner’s Club Wine and Cheese at the Ambler Theatre in 2007. Even though she already had Alzheimer’s she still liked to attend the AARC Club events and socialize with the members.