Obituary of Susan H Gulick

Susan H. Gulick, 72, former director of the The Morristown & Morris Township Library, died on February 26, 2016 at Morristown Medical Center. Susan was born in Newark, grew up in West Orange, and lived in Morris County for over forty years. She graduated from Caldwell University with a B.A. degree in history, and later earned a Masters in Library Science from Rutgers University. Local volunteerism also figured strongly in Susan’s early career: she was a volunteer at Washington’s Headquarters in Morristown; the Jersey Battered Women’s Service (JBWS) in Morris Plains; and taught Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (C.C.D.) at St. Virgil’s Church, Morris Plains. Later in her career, Susan was also a member of the Board of Directors of Literacy Volunteers of Morris County (LVA). Susan’s strong interest in history was realized in her first position at The Morristown & Morris Township Library (l985) where she worked as the Archivist in the highly respected Local History & Genealogy Center. She later headed the Circulation Department, was promoted to Assistant Director, and was named Director of the Library from 1994, a position from which she retired in 2010. Susan’s tenure as Director was definitely eventful, and bookended by two explosions, each of which caused substantial damage, and required the Library to close for a period. Yet Susan carried on, and colleagues note that throughout her career at the Library, her responses to various situations were always intelligent, determined, and delivered with a bit of welcome dry humor. She was also a valuable mentor to some colleagues, and initiated a variety of new programs, including the popular Morning Book Club (formerly called the Director’s Book Club). The capstone of Susan’s career at the Library, perhaps, was her dedicated work on “The Second Edition,” a joint fundraising enterprise which included members of the Library Foundation, the Friends of the Library, Trustees, and numerous donors, all dedicated to raising funds for the necessary Library expansion, which was completed in 2006. Briefly, and with Susan’s persistent guidance, the new addition to the Library included, among other vital offerings, a new Children’s Room, a dedicated Media Center, and a computer training lab. Susan is survived by her three children, Suzanne Uvino of Wilmington, Vt.; Richard Gulick, East Hanover, NJ; and Timothy Gulick, Rockaway, NJ, and by her three adored grandchildren, Caitlyn Hendrickson, Amanda Uvino, and Parker Gulick. A Memorial Mass for Susan will take place on Saturday, March 12, 2016, 11:00am at St. Virgil’s Church, 250 Speedwell Ave., Morris Plains, NJ, 07950 Donations in memory of Susan H. Gulick can be made to The Morristown & Morris Township Library, 1 Miller Road, Morristown, NJ 07960, (www.jfpl.org). Arrangements were under the care of Dangler Funeral Home, Morris Plains, NJ.