Gloria Louise Greenidge was born December 14, 1932 in the historic rural German settlement of Seaford Town, Westmoreland, Jamaica.  She was the first of four children of Cecil Palmer and Gladys Palmer (née Malcolm).

Gloria started her education in the local primary school.  At the age of nine she went to live with her uncle who was headmaster of a well-regarded primary school in Tweedside, Clarendon.  She then attended Clarendon College for high school where she excelled and graduated with honors.  After graduation, she entered a laboratory technician training program at Kingston Public Hospital and after certification, she worked for 2-1/2 years as a lab technician in the Jamaican Public Hospital system in Kingston and Montego Bay.

In 1958, she came to the United States to attend Howard University.  After two years she transferred to Columbia University, where she met her husband of 57 years, Neil.  She graduated in 1963 with a B.S. degree in Chemistry with honors, and was inducted into Iota Sigma Pi, the National Honor Society for Women in Chemistry.  After graduation, she worked as a lab technician at Booth Memorial Hospital in Queens.

Gloria and Neil married on June 4, 1966 in Kingston, Jamaica, and moved to Newark, New Jersey, where she worked as a quality control chemist for a pharmaceutical company.  She stopped working during her first pregnancy and stayed at home caring for her family.  During this time, she was also involved in many community associations, including the PTA and the neighborhood Home Owner’s Association, where she held the office of Secretary/Treasurer.  When her children were young, Gloria and her family joined Riverdale Presbyterian Church, where she remained an active member until her death.

When her children were in middle school and high school, Gloria decided to re-enter the workforce.  She enrolled in a paralegal course at Lehman College.  During her studies, she was advised by a professor to pursue a law degree.  She then worked full-time for a private financial company as a paralegal, while attending New York Law School evening classes.  She graduated from law school in 1985 and passed the New York bar exam on the first attempt.

Gloria began her legal career with the City of New York in the legal division of the Department of General Services.  Over the years, she became Assistant General Counsel in the Department of Citywide Administrative Services.  She retired from the City in 2008 after 20 years of dedicated public service.  She made the most of her retirement, travelling, attending cultural and artistic events and fostering strong bonds with family and friends all over the world.  She especially enjoyed the belated celebration of her 90th birthday this past summer, and it put a smile on her face when people told her she did not look her 90 years.

Gloria passed away at home comforted by her family just before her 91st birthday.  She leaves behind her husband Neil, children Dawn, Marc and Scott, daughter-in-law Lucie, grandchildren Donovan, Linda and Elizabeth, sister Stephanie, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family and dear friends.

Visiting hours start Wednesday, December 13th 2023 from 2-5 p.m. and continue Thursday, December 14th 2023 from 4-7 pm at Riverdale-on-Hudson Funeral Home, 6110 Riverdale Avenue Bronx NY. Burial private.

Riverdale-On-Hudson Funeral Home is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Gloria Greenidge Funeral Services Time: Dec 15, 2023 10:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81018861350

Meeting ID: 810 1886 1350

Please text or WhatsApp message Will Jacobson: (914) 357-3332 if you are having any issues with Zoom.