** Valerie M. Orridge R.N.
Valerie M. Orridge R.N. (1932-2015) was born at Harlem Hospital, and graduated from Harlem Hospital School of Nursing in 1953 as a Registered Nurse. She received her Bachelor's degree from Teacher's College, Columbia University in Nursing Education in 1962, and in 1979 received a Master's degree from New York University in Human Sexuality, Marriage, and Family Life Education. In 1997, she became a Board Certified Sex Educator from A.A.S.E.C.T. (The American Association of Sex Educators, Counselors and Therapists.)
As a Registered Nurse she worked as a Private Duty Nurse at Mt. Sinai Hospital, NYC for over 40 years, and was the Education Director, and Chairperson of the Education Commission for the United Group of Private Duty Nurses Association of New York, Inc., and would often represent Nurses in Court Cases. She was heard on WKTU Radio Station, and gave several interviews for the Daily News Newspaper discussing Systemic Racism within the Nursing Profession, and wrote many articles, and gave numerous Lectures/Presentations on the subject.
Ms. Orridge was the Founder and President of the Minority Interest Committee of the Cathedral School of St. John the Divine, NYC, whose purpose was to assist the school in introducing ethnically diversified reading materials, and books by non-white authors into the library experience, alongside assisting the school in integrating contributions by non-white Americans and other significant non Anglo-Saxon experiences into the social studies curricula. Ms. Orridge held this title from 1976-1980, and in 1980 received the Outstanding Service Award from the Trustees of the Cathedral School.
As an Educator, Ms. Orridge was a Senior Instructor of Practical Nursing at the New York School of Practical Nursing, Administrator of Practical Nursing Programs, Instructor of Human Sexuality for the Psychiatric Resident Physicians at both Harlem Hospital, and Columbia Presbyterian, Instructor of Sexuality Education for the psychiatrically impaired, Instructor of Human Sexuality and Sexuality Educator for mastectomy survivors, and Educational Presenter for A.A.S.E.C.T., and other organizations.
Among her other awards were the 1995, and 1996 Community Mental Health Service Award for Outstanding Service, presented to her by the Trustees of Columbia University Community Support System Program, the 1996 Harlem Community Award presented by the Women of Mother A.M.E. Zion Church, and the 1999 Outstanding Service Award presented by the Staff of Harlem House Psycho-Social Facility.
Ms. Orridge was a fierce Champion/Warrior for Tenants Rights, and was the President of the Delano Village/Savoy Park Tenant Association, a seven building, 1,800 unit apartment complex located in Harlem, NYC. for over 30 years, leading the Tenants on two successful Rent Strikes during the 80's and 90's. She held this title until her death, and was revered by local Elected Officials. The street for which Ms. Orridge lived for over 50 years has been renamed in her honor. (see photo below)
After purchasing one Shirley Verrett LP Recording in 1974, Ms. Orridge was instantly hooked, and quickly developed a desire to collect LP Recordings featuring Black Opera Singers, a desire she would pass along to her son.
Ms. Orridge was the first cousin of the renowned poet, the late Ms. June Jordan, and both were raised as sisters within the same household, and for whose poetry Leonard Bernstein composed a duet. A recording of said duet is included within this collection, sung by Rosalind Elias and John Reardon.
As an octogenarian, Ms. Orridge, who never once believed in the concept of Retirement, continued to give Lectures/Presentations on Human Sexuality to Psychiatric Resident Physicians at Harlem Hospital, and was the Registered Nurse on duty at the A. Phillip Randolph Senior Citizen Center in Harlem until her death in 2015.
Ms. Orridge with her father, the late Mr. David Orridge, Harlem, 1934.
Ms. Orridge with her mother, the late Mrs. Ethelyn Orridge, Far Rockaway Beach, 1935.
Ms. Orridge with her parents, 1937.
1937
Ms. Orridge with her cousin, the late Ms. June Jordan, circa 1940.
Circa 1945.
Circa 1948.
Circa 1950.
Ms. Orridge with her mother, the late Mrs. Ethelyn Rutledge, circa 1952.
1952
Harlem Hospital School of Nursing Graduation, 1953.
Ms. Orridge with her newborn son, 1965.
1968
Ms. Orridge, keynote speaker at Bellevue School of Nursing graduation ceremony, 1969.
Ms. Orridge teaching a class of Nurse's Aides, 1970.
Ms. Orridge on vacation, Bermuda, 1969.
Ms. Orridge with her mother, and sister, the late Mrs. Lynne Armstead, Bermuda, 1969.
Ms. Orridge with her son attending a wedding. Gentelman (unidentified) Bermuda, 1969.
Ms. Orridge with her son, Ladies (unidentified) 1969.
Charles Smith, Shirley Bennet Smith, and Ms. Orridge.
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Shirley Bennet, Kelly Howard, Ethelyn Rutledge, Gene Howard, and Ms. Orridge.
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David Orridge, Gene Howard, Stephanie Hill, and Ms. Orridge.
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Mable Ballard, Theodore Rutledge,
Judge Albert P. Williams, Ethelyn Rutledge, Juliia Williams, David Orridge, Gene Howard, Kelly Howard, (kneeling) Shirley Bennet, Stephanie Hill, and Ms. Orridge.
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Ms. Orridge, her father, and son.
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Ms. Orridge discussing politics with her step-father, the late Mr. Theodore Rutledge, 1970.
1971
Circa 1974.
Circa 1976.
Circa, 1976.
Ms. Orridge attending a performance at the Metropolitan Opera with her son, 1977.
Ms. Orridge celebrating her birthday, 1978.
Ms. Orridge with her father, the late Mr. David Orridge at his surprise Father's Day Party, 1981.
Circa 1988.
Circa 1991.
1994
Circa 1995
Ms. Orridge on the street which would eventually be renamed in her honor, circa 1995. (See photo below.)
Circa 1997.
Ms. Orridge with her cousin, the late Ms. June Jordan, circa 1999.
Ms. Orridge at her 50th Anniversary Class Reunion Luncheon, class of '53, Harlem Hospital School of Nursing, 2003.
Ms. Orridge with her grand niece Micheala, 2009.
Ms. Orridge with her grand nephews Paul, and David, circa 2009.
Latest Arrival
Latest Arrival
Latest Arrival
Latest Arrival
Latest Arrival
Ms. Orridge being interviewed by the New York Times on the subject of "Gentrification in Harlem", 2011.
Ms. Orridge showing off her son's needlepoint, Thanksgiving Day, 2010.
2011
W 139th Street and Malcolm X Blvd. Harlem, New York City, NY, erected 2018.