Dobbs Ferry Children of All Ages Share Memories of a Beloved Librarian

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March 4, 2020

by Karen Sims –

Victoria, age five, was the first child to draw in a memory book dedicated to Cheryl B. Matthews. With a yellow marker, she drew a likeness, a smiling face with cheerful glasses. Meanwhile, her mother recounted memories of listening to Matthews’ “storytime,” an interactive, engaging event. “She would ask a lot of questions and make us think about the story more,” said Hui Zhang, “It was very relaxing and helped us to learn. We will definitely miss her a lot.”

Victoria and her mother were among about 130 children and their parents who gathered on February 15 to honor Matthews, whose death on January 23 at age 69 followed a 46-and-a-half year career as the children’s librarian at the Dobbs Ferry Public Library. (see The Hudson Independent, February 2020, page 6).

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While Victoria drew for the memory book in the Children’s Room, the main building of Dobbs Ferry Library held a memorial service open to both adults and children. “Cheryl was a true children’s librarian,” said Library Director Elizabeth Holden during her welcome speech. “She met children at their level.”

Meeting children at their level meant Matthews would listen to them and recommend books to them as individuals with their own tastes, interests, and personalities. She treated them as equals and showed even the most reluctant reader the joy of stories, setting the path for over three generations of avid readers.

“I think I am the first person that Cheryl inspired to love reading,” recalled Matthew’s younger sister, Sheila Price, in her eulogy. She highlighted Matthews’ excitement for life and her childlike wonder, spoke of her love of Disney and Star Wars, and of her ability to come up with the best, most creative games when they were kids.

Matthews would continue to come up with games that children would love, including fun activities and crafts themed around the holidays. Matthews’ friend Jean Greenberg described in her memorial speech how Matthews would let her young son, fascinated by the light-up Halloween pumpkins, plug and unplug the decorations to his heart’s content. Today, Ian is an electrical engineer.

Back at the memory book, more children have added letters and drawings to the collection. Sisters Elena, grade three, and Lana, grade six, shared their favorite memories of Matthews. Already a reader, Lana would consult Matthews on her preferences and Matthews would introduce a new series to her, such as I Funny. Elena, however, needed more convincing. “I didn’t really get books that often,” she said, “But basically she knows what books I like and she recommends them.” In Elena’s case, Matthews suggested what is now her favorite series, Ivy and Bean.

Down the room, Mark, six, draws a heart with wings on one of the memory boards. He loved the Bad Kitty series Matthews urged him to read, as well as the art projects she would organize. The projects would be creative and different. “Parents would sometimes be like, ‘What is this?’”, said Mark’s mom Laura Mathieson, “But the kids would love it.”

That was a defining characteristic of Matthews. She wasn’t just a children’s librarian, but a librarian for the children. She inspired children of all ages, and then she inspired their children. One child she inspired even followed in her footsteps. Elizabeth Portillo, shadowed Matthews around the library as a child, a relationship that would grow into a deep friendship and professional mentorship. In her memorial remarks, Portillo told of how she grew up to become a children’s librarian herself, and how she often turned to Matthews for inspiration, such as in replicating the Dobbs Ferry Library’s annual “Egg Day” at other libraries.

Now there’s another day to celebrate. During the memorial, Mayor Vincent Rossillo officially declared February 15th Cheryl Matthews day, in honor of a librarian who loved kids and who the kids loved back. A day that can be celebrated anywhere, but best so at her home in the Dobbs Ferry Children’s Room. A day to read, fall in love with stories and embrace your inner child.

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