Charlottesville, Va.—Mildred K. Abraham, 91, of Charlottesville, Va., passed away peacefully on June 17, 2022, in the home that she loved so much at Westminster Canterbury of the Blue Ridge.
Born on November 28, 1930, in the city of New York, she was the daughter of Margaret and Monroe Kosches. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Henry, her parents, and her sister, Joan Rodger.
Mildred resided for most of her childhood years in Woodmere, Long Island with her parents and her sisters Joan, Susan, and Peggy. It was there that she first gained her love of books and reading. She received her undergraduate degree from Russell Sage College, a master’s degree in English from the University of Pennsylvania and a master’s degree in Library Science from Drexel University.
Mildred met her husband of more than 60 years, Henry J. Abraham, while studying at the University of Pennsylvania and spent their life together sharing their love of travel, books, and spending time with friends and family. Mildred and Henry traveled the world together visiting dozens of countries, but no place was more special to her than her beloved Italy, which she visited more than 30 times in her life.
Mildred worked most of her adult life as a librarian, first as the head librarian at the Shipley School in Philadelphia, then at the Blue Ridge School near Charlottesville. She later joined the faculty at Alderman Library at the University of Virginia shortly thereafter and soon became a research librarian at the Special Collections Department, where she had a distinguished career before retiring in 1993.
Mildred’s love of books and reading inspired her in 1995 to create the nonprofit organization, Book Baskets, that provides new and used books to children who are less able to afford them and have few books of their own. Twenty-five years later, Book Baskets continues to provide the gift of books to children in the Charlottesville and Albemarle area with an average of 20,000 books donated annually. This work led her to receive the honor of being selected in 2014 by the Daily Progress as one of the “Distinguished Dozen” who were recognized for exemplary service to their community.
Mildred is survived by her sons, Philip and Peter, their spouses, Janet and Anne; her grandchildren, Ben Abraham, Lauren McKown, Marnie Abraham and Liesel Abraham; and her sisters, Susan and Peggy.
Memorial contributions may be made to Book Baskets, 105 Whetstone Place, Charlottesville, VA 22911.
A private funeral service was held. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.hillandwood.com.