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NORWALK, Conn. - Judith Rivas of Norwalk died Thursday, May 22. She was 58.
Rivas was born Dec. 8, 1955, in the Bronx, N.Y., to Ismael and Ramona Rivas. She was the former director of library information services for the Norwalk Public Library. She worked at the library for over 28 years.
She graduated from the Bronx High School of Science, Fordham University, and Southern Connecticut State University with a master's degree in library science. She was a co-founder and member of the former United Hispanic Action of Norwalk (UHAN), as well as a member of several other community organizations. She also worked with the Wilkerson Scholarship Fund, which awards scholarships to needy students in the Norwalk high schools.
In 1997, she joined the Norwalk Common Council to complete the unfinished term of then-state Rep. Joseph Clemmons, who had been elected to the State Legislature.
Rivas is survived by her husband, Neil Hershkowitz; sister, Migdalia Rivas; sister, Haydee; brother, Ismael Rivas; stepmother; Carmen Rivas; stepsister, Zaida Hernandez; sister-in-law, Eileen Goldsmith (Martin) of Roslyn, N.Y.; and nieces, nephews aunts, uncles and cousins. She was predeceased by her parents.
Shiva will be observed Monday, May 26, and Tuesday, May 27, from noon to 8 p.m. at the Hershkowitz/Rivas home.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Rivas’ memory may be made to Temple Shalom, the Whittingham Cancer Center at Norwalk Hospital, the Lustgarden Foundation for Pancreatic Research, or the Wilkerson Scholarship Fund c/o Jules Lang Esq, Lepofsky, Lepofsky and Lang, 16 River St., Norwalk, CT.
For more information, visit: www.collins-funeral.com
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