NEWARK, N.J. -- Family and friends will remember the life of the late Hilda Hidalgo, a former Rutgers professor and community activist, during a March 27 ceremony at the Newark Public Library.
"A Celebration of Hilda Hidalgo's Life" will take place from 2 to 4 p.m. March 27 in the Library's Centennial Hall, located at 5 Washington St.
Her partner, Dr. Cheryl Lamey, and her sisters, Elia Christiansen and Zaida Berrios, as well as other members of the family, will be in attendance. The ceremony will include songs, music and remembrances by family and friends.
"All who wish to honor Hilda are invited, but the family is requesting that comments be limited to two minutes each," said Olga Wagenheim, a longtime friend and colleague.
Hidalgo, 81 died on Nov. 8, and was both a distinguished scholar at Rutgers and the co-founder of several community organizations including Aspira Inc. of NJ, La Casa de Don Pedro, the Puerto Rican Congress, the United Community Foundation, the Newark Urban League and the United Community Corporation.
Until recently, Hidalgo was an active member of Equality Florida and Friends of Wild Iris, organizations that fight for the rights of gays and lesbians.
She also chaired the first Puerto Rican Convention of New Jersey and served as vice-president of the New Jersey Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers.
During her career, Hidalgo received numerous honors, including the Maria De Castro Blake Community Service Award, the Rutgers Presidential Award for Public Service and the Pioneer of Aspira of New Jersey, Inc. award.
Additionally, she was named by Ladies Home Journal as one of "50 American Heroines" and was selected by the state as one of 13 women honored during Women's History Week in 1986. She was also was named "Puerto Rican Woman of the Year" by Essex County College in 1978.
Hidalgo, a native of Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, came to Newark in 1960. She began working as district director of the Girl Scout Council of Greater Essex and then as director of child services until 1970.
She first taught at the Rutgers School of Social Work in New Brunswick, and then came to the Rutgers-Newark campus to teach in the Department of Public Administration which has since become the School of Public Affairs and Administration.
At Rutgers-Newark, Hidalgo served as director of the Masters of Work Bilingual Program, coordinator of Puerto Rican Studies and director of the Masters of Public Administration Hispanic, Bilingual, Bicultural Program.
After retiring from Rutgers, she was assistant commissioner of education for the State of New Jersey from 1994 to 1995. Donations in her honor can be made to the Haven Hospice, 4200 NW 90th Blvd., Gainesville, FL 32606.
The program is open to the public but seating is limited; to RSVP, please contact Yesenia Lopez, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it (973)733-4791, Maria Canino at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or Olga Wagenheim at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , (973) 376-7529.
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