Archives of Maryland
(Biographical Series)

Rosalie S. Abrams (1916-2009)
MSA SC 3520-11515

Born in Baltimore, Maryland, June 2, 1916.  Daughter of Isaac and Dora Silber.  Attended  Western High School; Sinai Hospital School of Nursing, Registered Nursing degree; Columbia University, 1939; The Johns Hopkins University, B.S., 1963, M.A., political science, 1969; Thesis:  "State Governmental Structure Affecting Enactment and Implementation of a Federal Program:  A Case Study of Medicaid in Maryland."  Married William Abrams, 1954; one daughter, Elizabeth.  Died February 27, 2009, in Towson, Maryland.

General Assembly:
House of Delegates (D), District 5 Baltimore City, 1967-70.  Member, Liaison Committee to the Constitutional Convention.  Chair, Joint Committee on Medicaid Legislation; Health and Welfare Subcommittee of the House Ways and Means Committee.  Organizer and first chair, House Democratic Study Group.  Senate (D), District 11, 1971-74, District 42, 1975-84 (resigned, 1984).  Senate Majority Leader, 1978-82.  Member, Budget and Taxation Committee, 1971-82.  Chair, Finance Committee, 1983-84.

Private Career and Other Public Service:
Served in U.S. Navy Nurses Corps, World War II.  Chair, Democratic State Central Committee of Maryland, 1978-84.  Chair, Humane Practices Commission, 1973-86.  Member, Commission to Study Implementation of the Equal Rights Amendment, 1973-78.  Member, Human Resources and Urban Affairs Committee, Southern Legislative Conference, Council of State Governments; State-Federal Assembly Committee on Human Resources, National Conference of State Legislatures, 1977-date unknown.  Member, Democratic National Committee, 1979-date unknown.  President, Maryland Order of Women Legislators.  Director on Aging, 1985-95.  World War II Memorial Commission, 1991-98.  Health Care Decisions Act Advisory Council, 1994-96.  First Citizen Award, 1999.  Received numerous distinguished service awards and citations.

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