Florence loved writing this blog and hearing from all of you. Family and friends welcome your thoughts and tributes. Her laughter and voice reverberate in our ears, her memory adds richness to our hearts and the writing she enjoyed over the years will remain here for all of us to treasure. Below please find funeral and obituary information. Many thanks for all your friendship and support.
-- Florence's family
Florence Shay nee Gerson.
Beloved wife of Arthur Shay.
Devoted mother of Jane (the late Eliot) Wald, Richard (Jami Good) Shay, Lauren (Carl) Lavin, Steven (Laura Wold) Shay and the late Harmon Shay.
Mother in law of Bonnie Hillman Shay.
Proud grandmother of Austin (Beth), Seth (Kate), Carter and Celeste Lavin, Natalie and Gabriella Shay.
Adored great grandmother of Moses Lavin.
Dear sister of Donald (the late Louise) Gerson and the late Ruth (the late Mac) Antillis.
Service Sunday, 1 p.m. at Congregation B'nai Torah, 2789 Oak St., Highland Park, IL 60035.
Interment Shalom.
Memorials in her memory to Congregation B'nai Torah, Planned Parenthood or to a charity of your choice would be appreciated.
Arrangements by Chicago Jewish Funerals-Buffalo Grove Chapel 847.229.8822, www.cjfinfo.com
Florence
Shay, a rare-book dealer whose shop in Highland Park, Titles, Inc.,
served for four decades as a salon for bibliophiles, died Aug. 22. She
was 90 years old and until her recent illness was a constant presence in
her store, at book fairs and as a leader of local and national
associations of antiquarian book dealers.
Born
in New York City on Valentine's Day in 1922 as Florence Gerson, the
future book dealer graduated from Brooklyn College where she studied
psychology. Married to an Army aviator, Art Shay, who became a writer
and photographer, Florence moved with her husband as his career at Life
magazine sent them first to San Francisco and then, in 1950, to the
Chicago area.
As
she settled in Deerfield and raised five children -- Jane, Harmon,
Richard, Lauren and Steven -- Florence Shay also became active in a used
book sale that supported ORT, the Jewish organization committed to
"educating people against all odds and obstacles." Together with a
partner, Shay turned that experience into Titles, Inc., a store that for
four decades has specialized in first editions, Chicago-related topics,
illustrated and art books, leather sets, and other rare volumes.
A
passionate advocate for books, authors and booksellers, Shay treasured
her correspondence with Joseph Heller, David Mamet and local collectors,
including Chicago Bulls point guard B. J. Armstrong. Inscribed photos
of these and other luminaries line the walls of her shop. Many of the
books she sold were also inscribed by the authors, ranging from
photography books by her husband to the Hollywood autobiography of
Gloria Swanson, “Swanson on Swanson.”
As a board member of the Midwest Antiquarian Booksellers Association (MWABA), and a prominent figure within the national group, the
Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America, Shay was instrumental
in bringing the prestigious international antiquarian book show to
Chicago.
Shay,
a longtime resident of Deerfield, also focused her attention on her
local community, remaining active in the the Highland Park Chamber of
Commerce, which recently recognized her for running one of the oldest
continuing operating stores in town.
As
the grand dame of her own salon at Titles, Shay found that her early
academic work in pyschology was often useful when regular customers,
famous and otherwise, sought her advice, empathy and wise words.
A
prolific writer, she served as a contributing editor of The Caxtonian,
the regular publication of the Caxton Club. In her 80’s, Shay started a
blog at www.florenceshay.com
and recounted the best stories of those Titles discussions for readers
around the world. A recent entry quoted a customer who found the very
book once treasured by her own sister: “My
sister screamed when I gave her the book. She pushed it in my face,
and said See, see, it’s MY book, here’s my name!” Shay ended the item
with a warning to e-book readers: “You can’t get this with a Kindle.
God bless books.”
One
son, Harmon, and a sister, Ruth, pre-deceased her. Shay is survived by
her husband, Art; their other children; six grandchildren; one
great-grandchild; and a brother, Donald.
Services will be Sunday, 1:00 pm at Congregation B’nai Torah, 2789 Oak St., Highland Park, IL 60035.
Memorials may be made in her memory to Congregation B’nai Torah, to Planned Parenthood or to a charity of your choice.
As Florence Shay directed, the store will close by the end of the year. The highlights of her 40 years of acquisitions will be sold at Leslie Hindman Auctioneers in an auction set for Wednesday, Nov. 7. The store will be open as usual through that period, with substantial discounts on other items including books, figurines and prints.
This
month, her friend, the Smashing Pumpkins star Billy Corgan, wrote an
essay for the Ravinia program about the local area that called Titles "a
Highland Park mainstay."
"Run
affectionately and decisively by Florence Shay," Corgan wrote, "it's a
small bookstore with a big heart: hosting a deep well of
off-the-beaten-path tomes that would make even the stingiest bibliophile
happy. I've never failed to leave Titles without either a new old book
under my arm, or at least the trailing echoes of a vigorous conversation
by which to further contemplate my ongoing existential crisis."
I have goose bumps. What a rich and beautiful life. Oh the places college degrees colliding with interests and passions can take you! I love the Kindle remark and I love what Billy wrote. I sure hope this blog stays up so we can dip in from time to time. Rest in Peace, Florence.
Posted by: Gail Hulbert | August 25, 2012 at 07:28 AM
Michael Lewis sent this eulogy for Florence:
Like so many others, I loved and adored Florence. It was so easy to do. How could you not love someone who when asked where she is from replies, “Brooklyn, where else?” Or, when describing what happens in her bookstore, states, “People tell me their problems and I tell them what to do about them.” Or, when people ask, “Are you really married to Art Shay?’ coolly replies, “He’s married to Florence Shay."
What do these Florenceisms tell us about her? First, she was so comfortable in her own skin. She had no pretense. She told it like it was. You know you were getting the unvarnished truth, but with diplomacy. She had the remarkable quality of telling you how to get it right while at the same time making you feel good about yourself. Since BS was not in her nature, when you did get a compliment, it made you feel on top of the world.
Sitting before the queen at her desk in the bookstore was like being in a holy shrine. When she would look at you with those bright eyes, nodding head, and infectious smile, she would cast a magic spell on you.
She had such an adventurous spirit and an ability to roll with the punches. One can hear her saying the following Florenceisms: Running a bookstore while raising a bevy of children and keeping Art out of trouble, I can do it. Lost our lease, no problem, we will find another location. Diagnosed with cancer, let’s start the treatment. What an amazing lady!
What a character she was! She had a unique perspective. A literal example of seeing things from a different point of view occurred recently at a party that my wife and I gave. Instead of complaining about her limitations because she was confined to a wheelchair, she wrote a blog about the event on how women looked, from the waist down, in their fancy dresses.
And what a sense of humor! She had a remarkable ability to laugh at herself. When she lost her hair while receiving chemotherapy, she found, by her own acknowledgement, an ugly wig. She put it on and laughed at herself, and damned if she didn’t look beautiful in it.
What a zest for life she had! What an inspiration she is. Valerie and Melanie and I feel so grateful to have known her. Thank you, Lord, for the blessing of Florence Shay.
-- Michael Lewis
Posted by: Lauren Shay | August 25, 2012 at 03:36 PM
I am saddened to read of Florence's passing here, her blog, where I came to appreciate her wit, her style, her zest of life and books. My condolences to her family and friends.
Penny O'Neill
Posted by: Penny | August 30, 2012 at 06:31 PM
I've just found out about Florence... I didn't know her that much, just enough to love her a lot in a very little time.
I am feeling a big sadness now but i feel so honored to have known her.
Beautiful angel.
I am sending all my love for the family and friends. God bless you all.
oLIVIA*.*
Posted by: oLIVIA | September 08, 2012 at 02:10 PM