Rosalie Silber Abrams

Rosalie Silber Abrams (June 2, 1916 – February 27, 2009) was a member of the Maryland House of Delegates (1967–70) and Maryland State Senate (1970-84). She was the first female and Jewish majority leader of the state Senate (1978–82). Appointed by Governor Harry Hughes, Abrams headed the Maryland Office on Aging (now Department of Aging) from 1983 until retiring in 1996.

Quotes

• I was a very good legislator—very effective and aggressive. My first year in the House of Delegates, one of the men said to me, ‘You know, when you get up to speak, we forget you are a woman
  • [1]
• My mother always said that that there was a better way to provide health care than just in a strictly medical model.
  • [2]
• strongly assert yourself, be paid for what you are worth, change the system by being part of the system, mentoring is important and be an advocate.
  • [3]
• I am still trying to locate a nurse who served with me at Newport in 1945-46. Her maiden name was Jeannie Gilbert. She graduated in the early 40s and later married an Army officer named MacDougal ,or something like that she would be about 70 years old today.
  • [4]