Hila Colman

COLMAN, Hila Hila Colman, of Bridgewater CT, died in the early morning of May 15, 2008 peacefully in her bed in her home of nearly 65 years, surrounded by family and close friends. She was months away from her 99th birthday. Hila was born and raised in New York City, the daughter of Harry and Sarah Crayder, Eastern European immigrants who owned a successful company which designed and manufactured children's clothing. Hila graduated from the Calhoun School in New York and attended Radcliff College. Her first job was at the National War Relief Agency, where she wrote promotional materials. In 1947, she published her first article "Should Husbands be Babysitters?" in the Saturday Evening Post. She continued writing for magazines, including McCalls, Redbook, and Women's Day, for several years. Hila also authored over 70 books, mostly fiction for young adults. Two of her books were produced as ABC after school specials. In the last five years, she wrote Op Ed pieces which were published in the New York Times. She was also a frequent contributor of Letters to the Editor for local newspapers in Connecticut. Hila had a quick mind and a great sense of humor. Politically she was liberal, and was very active in the left wing political movement of the 1930's, 40's, and 50's. Her open mindedness and sense of fairness affected all of her interpersonal, social and political activities, including the ceremonies she performed as Justice of the Peace in the state of Connecticut. She was also very active in local politics and had a significant impact on the community, where she was chairman on the Zoning Board of Appeals for many years. Hila was predeceased by her four husbands, Leon Meadow, Saul (Ace) Ochs, Louis (Limey) Colman, and Joel Rothman. She is survived by her two sons; Jonathan Colman and his wife, Maureen Ellen Colman; and James Colman and his wife, Jacqueline Colman Manley; by Wanda Hutchinson Colman and Vincent Bishop; by Joyce Diamond Colman and Deborah Haynor; by nine grandchildren; by 11 great-grandchildren; and by countless friends, all of whom meant so much to Hila. She will be deeply missed by them all. A memorial for Hila will be planned in the near future. Donations can be made in her name to the Burnham Library at P.O. Box 43062, Bridgewater, CT 06752