Florence Shay, 1922-2012

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."