Lenore E. Churgay, 94, of Dearborn, MI passed away Wednesday, December 23, 2020 at home.  She was born June 10, 1926 in Detroit to Louis A. and Margaret (Hovorka) Churgay.

After receiving a Bachelor's degree from Marygrove College and spending three years studying art at the Academie Julian, Academie Montmartre and the Academie Grande Chaumiere, all in Paris, France, Lenore returned to Michigan in 1954 to begin her career with the Dearborn Public Library as a Library Aide at the Esper Branch Library.  After completing a Master's degree in Library Science at U of M-Ann Arbor, Lenore continued her 38-year library career as a Librarian I at Esper and next as the Librarian II in charge of Community Relations.  This department was responsible for printing all library publicity as well as print documents and publicity for the City of Dearborn and other local organizations.

By 1976, Lenore was promoted to an administrative Librarian III position and then to Deputy Library Director in 1983.

Throughout her career, Lenore was an integral part of many improvements at the Dearborn Public Library.  These included the construction of the Henry Ford Centennial Library and the installation of several pieces of art including the base-relief map of the United States, the serpentine wall and reflecting pool as well as the installation of the Henry Ford statue by noted sculptor Marshall Fredericks.  In the 1980's, Ms. Churgay worked on the initial move to the computerized checkout of library material and an online library catalog.

Ms. Churgay retired in April 1992 but never stopped working for the library.  She was chair of the Friends of the Library-Dearborn Book Sale committee until 2012.  She streamlined the used book sales and ensured that they were held monthly.  Each year, her efforts raised over $24,000 for the Dearborn Public Library.

Lenore continued as an active Board member of the Friends of the Library group until 2019, attending meetings and working in the Friends office.

Her institutional knowledge, dedication to the library and community and wonderful sense of humor will be sorely missed.

Ms. Churgay is survived by her brother Jon (Diane) Churgay, nieces Dr. Cathy Churgay, Lisa Churgay, and Jennifer (Nick) Smith, and loving cousins. She was preceded in death by brother, Richard Churgay. She was an avid Wolverines and Detroit Tigers fan.

She will be interred at Woodmere Cemetery, with the possibility of a Memorial Service after restrictions for the Pandemic are removed.

Condolences may be sent in care of HowePeterson.com

Memorial contributions may be made to Friends of the Library - Dearborn ( FOLD )

16301 Michigan Ave., Dearborn, MI 48126.  313-943-2330

 Friends Of the Library - Dearborn FOLD