Miriam Evelyn (Hedden) Tillman (1933 - 2015)

Born 21 Jun 1933 in Orange, Essex, New Jersey, United States

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 11 Dec 2015 at age 82 in Vero Beach, Indian River, Florida, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Barbara Ruh [send private message]

Biography

Early Years

Billy, Miriam, & Jim Hedden about 1936

Miriam Evelyn Hedden was born at St Mary's Hospital in Orange, Essex County, New Jersey on 21 Jun 1933 to William Percy Hedden and Mary Cecelia (Conlon) Hedden.^[1] She was the middle child between two brothers: James Edwin "Jim" Hedden and William Arthur "Billy" Hedden. The family first lived at 50 Walnut Ave, Millburn, New Jersey^[1] in a home that her parents built.^[2]

They lost the home during the Depression and moved to 30 Mt Vernon Place in the Vailsburg section of Newark, Essex County, New Jersey.^[3][4][5] The family had a car, but they "walked to most stores to do their shopping. When they needed to go to a department store, they took a bus into the center of the city."^[3]

"For summer vacations Miriam’s father would rent a bungalow at the Jersey shore at a place called Bay Shore. The family would spend the days swimming either at the ocean or at the bay. In the evenings they would visit the boardwalk at Seaside Heights."^[3]

Miriam's mother was a devout Catholic. Her father, a Protestant, refused to allow their children to be raised Catholic, so they did not attend church growing up.^[2]

Education & Early Career

Miriam went to the Ivy Street School in Newark through the 8th grade^[6] and then graduated from West Side High School^[7] where she was a twirler.^[2] She was awarded a Daughters of American Revolution scholarship toward college as an outstanding student in New Jersey.^[7]

Miriam attended New Jersey College for Women, which became Douglass College, part of Rutgers University. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Home Economics^[8] and received a Teacher's Certificate for home economics in elementary and secondary schools in New Jersey. She attended Catholic Mass during college and waitressed at Lake Placid NY in the summers.^[2]

Miriam shared how she started with just two women smokers in her dorm, but by the end only she and one other woman did not smoke. At home her father, a heavy smoker, suffered a major heart attack and stopped working.^[2]

After graduation she taught Home Economics at Vernon L. Davey Junior High School in East Orange, New Jersey. She enjoyed having summers off and traveled throughout Europe with three friends in the summer of 1956.^[2]

Miriam at St Mark's Basilica, Venice

Marriage

Miriam took up skiing and joined the Short Hills Ski Club. She skied at various areas in the Northeast, including Tuckerman's Ravine - a steep slope on Mt Washington in New Hampshire requiring hiking up with skis. On 12 Mar 1959 Alfred John "Al" Tillman's friends convinced him to go to a Short Hills Ski Club meeting despite being on crutches. He met Miriam there and they realized they had much in common.^[2] Al proposed to Miriam on 1 Sep 1959 at Florham Park Inn, Florham Park New Jersey. ^[2][9][10] They married on 20 Feb 1960 at the rectory of the Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Maplewood, Essex County, New Jersey^[11][12][13] right before school vacation and honeymooned skiing at Stowe VT.^[3]

Al and Miriam lived in an apartment for eight months in Great Notch, Little Falls New Jersey before buying their home at 39 Strowbridge Ave, Mt Tabor, Morris County, New Jersey - a 3-bedroom split level house in a friendly neighborhood. Miriam left her teaching job to raise their three children.^[3]

Activities, Career & Family

Miriam became president of both the Women's and Garden Clubs of Mt Tabor, winning awards for her flower arrangements. She co-founded the Mt Tabor Nursery School.^[14]

Al and Miriam built a vacation home at Beebe Pond in Hubbardton, Rutland County, Vermont where they summered on the lake and skied in the winter.^[14]

In Jan 1974 the family moved to 93 Silver St, North Granby, Hartford County, CT. During that time Miriam did some substitute teaching and started working toward a master's degree in Early Childhood Education at Westfield State College in Westfield, MA.^[14]

Then in Aug 1977 the family moved to 4566 Freeman Rd, Orchard Park, Erie County, New York in the Buffalo area where she worked in early childhood education.^[14]

The family moved to 511 Montrose Ave, Temple Terrace, Florida in 1984 where Miriam taught pre-school and then became the director of Temple Terrace Presbyterian Church Weekday School. Upon retiring in 1996, she and Al sold their home and full-timed in an RV for six-and-a-half years. They mostly spent time with family, summering in Massachusetts, spending spring and fall in Virginia, and wintering in Florida. They also drove the outer perimeter of much of the US. They sold the RV and settled at 318 Killarney Cay, Vero Beach, Indian River County, Florida in 2003.^[14]

Miriam in her garden

Miriam loved skiing, hiking, boating, birding, walking daily, going to concerts, and traveling, including birding trips and cruises. She revealed her creativity in gardening, flower arranging, cooking, sewing, and quilting, making over 30 quilts. She was actively involved in the various Protestant churches she attended and later participated in Community Bible Study. But most of all, Miriam loved to spend time with her family.^[14]

Final Years

In 2010 she and Al celebrated 50 years of marriage. Around that time Miriam started evidencing memory decline, which progressed. Miriam died at her home in Vero Beach, FL on 11 Dec 2015.^[15]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Birth. Certificate of Birth, Miriam Evelyn Hedden, Health Department, Orange, New Jersey, 21 Jun 1933.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7} First hand information by Miriam (Hedden) Tillman, told to Barbara (Tillman) Ruh.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4} Grandparents' Book. Miriam and Al Tillman, "Grandparent's Book for our Grandchild," spiral bound book, c.2001.
4. ↑ 1940 Census: "United States Census, 1940"
   citing Affiliate Publication Number: T627; Line: 20;
   FamilySearch Record: K4BL-PS7 (accessed 29 August 2022)
   FamilySearch Image: 3QS7-L99M-S7G4
   Miriam Hedden (6), single daughter, in household of William P Hedden (42) in Newark, Essex, New Jersey, United States.
5. ↑ 1950 Census: "United States 1950 Census"
   citing Page: 14; Line: 22;
   FamilySearch Record: 6F9G-PWJM (accessed 3 February 2023)
   FamilySearch Image: 3QHK-9QHW-L949-T
   Miriam E Hedden (16), single daughter, in household of William P Hedden (57 years) in Newark, Essex, New Jersey, United States. Born in New Jersey.
6. ↑ Diploma. Miriam Hedden, Ivy Street School, Newark Public Schools, 25 Jun 1947.
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1} Article. "Miss Miriam Hedden Wins Honors," newspaper unknown, 1951.
8. ↑ Diploma. Miriam Evelyn Hedden, Bachelor of Science, Douglass College, Rutgers University, 8 Jun 1955.
9. ↑ Article. "Miriam Hedden of Newark Betrothed to Alfred Tillman," Newark Evening News, 17 Sep 1959.
10. ↑ Article. "Miss Hedden in Engaged to Engineer," newspaper unknown, Vailsburg New Jersey, date unknown.
11. ↑ Marriage. Marriage License. Alfred Tillman & Miriam Hedden.
12. ↑ Article. "Miss Hedden Essex Bride," Newark Sunday News New Jersey, 21 Feb 1960.
13. ↑ Article. "Miriam Hedden Weds A. Tillman," newpaper unknown, date unknown.
14. ↑ ^{14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 14.5} Barbara (Tillman) Ruh. Personal recollection, 31 Aug 2021.
15. ↑ Death. Certification of Death, Miriam Evelyn Tillman. Bureau of Vital Statistics, Certification of Vital Records, State of Florida, 11 Dec 2015.