ARTS&LIFE
ART

S

ally Kohlenberg 
assisted patrons 
at the Huntington 
Woods Library for 40 years 
and, along the way, became 
known as The Purple Lady. 
In her position heading up 
circulation, she was seen 
wearing different articles 
of clothing every day, but 
always there was something 
purple.
Her proper name became 
surpassed by her favorite 
color.
The Purple Lady read 
extensively before, during 
and after joining the library 
and developed a large 
collection of her own books. 
They covered many topics, 
especially mysteries and 
cookbooks. 
Sally recommended lots of 
books for interested library 
patrons. She showed how 
to find reference materials 
for report writers meeting 
school deadlines. She 
gifted books to the library 
inscribed in the names of 
family and friends. 
And if people called 
the library and explained 
being homebound because 
of recovery instructions 
imposed after hospital stays, 
The Purple Lady stopped by 
those homes with books after 
her formal workdays were 
completed.
When The Purple Lady 
died in 2022, family and 
friends wanted to contribute 
to a memorial tribute for her. 
They decided on an original 
glass sculpture designed 
by Janet Kelman, who had 
designed stained glass for the 
building. 
While the artistry has 
been hung, there soon will 
be a plaque that reads, 
“In Memory of Sally B. 

Artwork at Huntington 
Woods Library dedicated 
to Sally Kohlenberg.

 A 
 Memorial 
 to The 
Purple Lady

SUZANNE CHESSLER CONTRIBUTING WRITER

46 | FEBRUARY 8 • 2024 J
N

The glass 
sculpture 
designed by 
Janet Kelman 
dedicated to 
Sally Kohlenberg

