Year Honored: 1985

Birth: 1913 - 2002

Biography

Norma B. Handloff was elected as the first female mayor of Newark, DE from 1967 to 1973. Her administration focused on strengthening the relationship between the town of Newark and the University of Delaware, and on Parks and Recreation within the town. For her contribution, a park west of Main Street in Newark, was designated the Norma B. Handloff Park.

Before her election as Mayor, Handloff held a number of other public offices, including Commissioner of the Newark Housing Authority, where she helped establish a city housing code, and the Newark Board of Ethics. She left her mayoral position to take a role as the Executive Director of the Delaware Agency to Reduce Crime from 1973 – 1976.

Handloff’s other public service roles include Vice President of the League of Local Governments, member of the Delaware Commission on Children and Youth, delegate to the 1970 White House Conference on Children, and a member of the Governor’s Commission on the Status of Women (1966-1970).

In 1952, Handloff was among the founding members of the League of Women Voters of Newark. She was also elected as their first President. Later, she served as vice-President of the Overseas Education Fund for the Organization. Handloff also served on a number of additional committees. Among them were President of the Delaware Educational association, trustee and chairman of the American Cancer Society, board member of the Wilmington Medical Center, and board member of WHYY-TV.

She was listed on the Who’s Who of American Women, and in 1985, Newark established ‘Norma B. Handloff Day.’
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Sources and Additional Readings

Archive of the League of Women Voters of Greater Newark, Delaware. Manuscript and Collection Finding Aids. (n.d.). Retrieved January 10, 2022, from https://library.udel.edu/special/findaids/view?docId=ead%2Fmss0448.xml%3Btab

CurrentObituary.com. (n.d.). Norma B. Handloff - obituary - Duxbury, Ma - Macdonald Funeral Home. Obituary. Retrieved December 15, 2021, from https://www.currentobituary.com/obit/3723

Newark Publishing Co. Records . Manuscript and Archival Collection Finding Aids . (n.d.). Retrieved January 10, 2022, from https://library.udel.edu/special/findaids/view?docId=ead%2Fmss0879.xml%3Bquery

Norma B. Handloff Park: Newark, DE - Official Website. City of Newark - Committed to service excellence. (n.d.). Retrieved December 15, 2021, from https://newarkde.gov/460/Norma-B-Handloff-Park

Norma Bram Handloff (1913-2002) - find a grave... Find a Grave. (n.d.). Retrieved December 15, 2021, from https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/161588853/norma-handloff