Phyllis Kurshan, 88, died July 10, 2014 at home at Princeton Windrows of natural causes. Born in Brooklyn, New York, she lived in Princeton for the past 68 years. She graduated from Samuel J. Tilden High School in January 1944. She attended New York University and received the Bachelor of Science degree cum laude from its School of Education in February 1947.

She married while still attending college and commuted from Princeton to New York City to finish her course work and her student teaching in Hell's Kitchen on the lower East Side. She then obtained a position teaching Reception Grade, an all-day kindergarten class, in Princeton Township for one year. After a few years' break to start raising two children, she took a position teaching kindergarten in Plainsboro Township. She subsequently moved on to first grade and taught in Plainsboro for a total of 32 years, never taking a day of sick leave. She introduced an innovative reading program and received a state grant to continue that work. She also introduced computer education in the Plainsboro elementary school. After Plainsboro and West Windsor Townships merged their school districts she served as President of their Education Association (Teachers' Union) and helped negotiate favorable and equitable teachers' contracts. She retired from teaching in 1986 but continued to hold a succession of jobs including bank teller at Princeton Trust Co., salesperson and instructor at Clayton's Knitting Shop, and office assistant at an accounting firm. Her final position was as a receptionist for 14 years with New Jersey Hospital Association which she left at the age of 81.

She was a founding member of The Jewish Center of Princeton and continued to be active as a choir member, Sunday School teacher, volunteer, and member of its Board of Directors. She helped organize and run an auxiliary High Holiday service (the Classical Service) held at the Riverside School. She had a beautiful and powerful voice and often led parts of the religious service. Cognizant of the need for more inclusion of seniors, she helped found the Silver Circle, a social group for seniors, and was its leader for a number of years. She was named Congregant of the Year in 2003.

Phyllis was the daughter of the late Jack and Beatrice Sterman. She is survived by her husband, Jerome Kurshan, whom she married in 1946. She is also survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Neil and Alisa Kurshan, a daughter Rachel Kurshan, five grandchildren; Ilana, Naamit, Ariella, Eytan and Sara, six great-grandchildren; Shira, Amalia, Matan, Tagel, Liav and Ezra and a brother Alex Sterman.

The funeral will be at The Jewish Center, 435 Nassau Street, Princeton, at 9:00 AM on Sunday July 13, 2014. Shiva will be observed at 2233 Windrow Drive with services at 8 PM on Sunday through Thursday. Condolence visits may be made Monday through Thursday from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to The Jewish Center, 435 Nassau Street, Princeton, NJ 08540 or to Jewish Federation of Princeton Mercer Bucks, 4 Princess Road, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648.