RICK ABRAMS

ABRAMS--Rick, died June 15, 2014 at the age of 57 after a long battle with thyroid cancer. Rick is mourned by all of his former colleagues at Scholastic and at Tom Snyder Productions, the Watertown, Mass., company where he worked for 30 years. Rick's contributions to the educational publishing community were historic. He was a pioneer in the educational technology industry, and his commitment to using technology to raise student engagement, critical thinking skills and achievement set an agenda which still applies today. Rick co-founded Tom Snyder Productions in 1982 and ran the business side of the groundbreaking educational technology company. At TSP, which was acquired by Scholastic in 2001, he harnessed visionary technical, artistic and editorial talent, managed finances, inspired employees, and helped bring to market some of the first and most impactful educational technology products the industry has seen. Ever self-effacing, Rick always credited those around him for the company's many successes. He leaves an enduring legacy of friendship, professionalism and compassion at TSP and Scholastic and will be greatly missed. A trustee of Wheelock College and on the boards of the Concord Consortium and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Rick never stopped contributing, learning and giving. Rick is survived by his wife Susan Kenyon, his father Justin Abrams, his three children Archie, Stanley, and Sydney, and two siblings, Rita Draper and Mark Abrams. A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, June 18, at Temple Isaiah, 55 Lincoln Street, Lexington, Mass., at 11:30 a.m. Contributions in his memory can be made to the International Thyroid Oncology Group (ITOG), ACROSS Lexington, and/or the Pan Mass Challenge (under the names of participants Archie and/or Stan Abrams). MARGERY MAYER, President, Scholastic Education