General Information

Full Name: Francine G. Sorock
Date of Death: Wednesday March 4, 2020

Francine G. Sorock (neé Lendman) was born in Paterson, NJ on February 26, 1926. A self-proclaimed “Paterson Kid,” she died at the age of 94 at her home in Fair Lawn, NJ on Wednesday, March 4th.

Fran is survived by her sons Peter R. Sorock and Gary S. Sorock; sister-in-law Phyllis Kusnitz; daughter-in-law Eleanor Shimkin-Sorock and former daughter-in-law Nasrin Sisk; grandchildren Charlotte (Sorock) Sheridan (Patrick), Rayden Sorock (O.E. Zelmanovich), and Abraham Sorock; great-grandchildren Calder Sorock and James Sheridan; and beloved companion Gloria Sanchez.

Mrs. Sorock attended the New Jersey College for Women (today Douglass College) for two years, where her favorite course was botany (she loved trees), and she graduated from NYU in 1947.

Fran is predeceased by Edward James Sorock, her husband of 67 years. They were introduced by a cousin on a blind date and proclaimed “love at first sight!” Yearly they would travel with friends to Puerto Rico and with family to Long Beach Island, NJ.

She taught English at Eastside High School in Paterson, NJ and later became a reading specialist, supervisor of Title I programs, and supervisor of language arts for the district, focusing on inspiring a love of reading. One of her favorite memories was bringing a group of students to see “The Me Nobody Knows” on Broadway. 

She retired early because of her health and devoted herself to many causes including starting a parent support group which continued to meet for decades, joining a Jungian dream analysis group, a movie club, and book club led by a retired Fairleigh-Dickinson professor. 

She loved art, music, theater, poetry and literature. She was a lifelong reader; even after she couldn’t see well enough, she listened to books every day thanks to the NJ State Library Talking Book & Braille Center.

Above all, she was a great conversationalist, and loved her friends like family and her family like friends. She was skilled in enthusiastically conveying her affection for all of us and often reminded us of her favorite Toni Morrison quote, “at some point in life the world’s beauty becomes enough.”

Those wishing to attend funeral services may arrive at 12:30pm on Friday, March 6th at Louis Suburban Chapel, 13-01 Broadway (Route 4 West), Fair Lawn, NJ. Burial will follow at Silk City Benevolent Association Cemetery in West Paterson, NJ. 

Donations in memory of Fran may be made to NJ State Library Talking Book & Braille Center (800-792-8322) and the Paterson Education Fund (973-881-8914).