Bench Donated to Scarsdale Library

On Sunday, July 11 the Scarsdale Public Library hosted a small ceremony to dedicate its new bench, chair, and planter in honor of Dr. Howard Rapaport, Elizabeth Rapaport, and Lois Rapaport Shugar. The furniture set was a gift to the library from the Shugar and Rapaport families, and the ceremony was attended by family members and friends.

The Rapaport family has been present in Scarsdale since 1944, and from 1944 to 2005, seventeen Rapaports attended Scarsdale schools. Amy Shugar, Lois Rapaport Shugar’s daughter and Howard and Elizabeth Rapaport’s granddaughter, spoke at the ceremony about the library’s strong presence in her family’s life. She remembers the library as “a place where our mother used to bring us for the children’s readings, puppet shows, music and art classes, as our grandmother did for her.”

Amy Shugar first considered donating to the library following a conversation with Lois Rapaport Shugar. “When [we] lost our mother so suddenly last year, we knew this was the first thing that [we] wanted to do in her memory. She loved the library, loved Scarsdale, loved to read and shared everything with us,” said Shugar.

Library Director Beth Bermel thanked the families for their generous gift, which will be enjoyed by Scarsdale residents for many years, and noted that their donation reflects the important role the library exerts in the life of the community. The seating is located in the library’s courtyard for all to enjoy.

Pictured on Bench - Henriette and Thibaut Desmoures