Phyllis Zia Foundation
About Us
Phyllis Susan (nee Lerman) Zia passed away in her home on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2008. Born in Newark on Sept. 14, 1946, to Raymond and Fannie Lerman, Phyllis lived there until moving to Elizabeth, Rahway and then South Orange, where she lived for 31 years. She unselfishly devoted her life to being a loving wife to William Zia, and mother to her three sons, Adam, Ryan and Randy. Prior to being a mom, she worked as a teacher in the Newark school system, as well as helped to start Newark's first drug counseling program. As her sons became older she went back to working with kids as a teacher at Congregation B'nai Israel's Hedwig Gruenwald Nursery School in Millburn, where she worked for 13 years.
Phyllis died of a rare form of skin cancer called Merkel Cell Carcinoma. Due to the low number of cases worldwide, very little research has been done into this disease, even as its percentages increase. A portion of funds donated to the Phyllis Zia Foundation will be donated to Merkel Cell research.
Phyllis' passion for children was highlighted by her 13 year career as a teach at Hedwig Gruenewald. It was there that she passed on her love of life to both students and their parents. A portion of funds donated to the Phyllis Zia Foundation will also be donated to the Hedwig Gruenewald Nursey School.
Phyllis Zia, and, l-r, William, Randy, Ryan and Adam
