A dedicated advocate for children and families and former Bank Street College trustee, Evelyn Rome Tabas, GSE ’46, passed away on June 13 at the age of 100.
Evelyn was a beloved member of the Bank Street community for eight decades and is remembered both for her longstanding commitment to supporting education and for her meaningful philanthropic service.
Evelyn began her time at Bank Street as a graduate student at what was then known as the Cooperative School for Teachers, part of the Bureau of Educational Experiments (BEE), located at 69 Bank Street in New York City. There, she was deeply influenced by some of the institution’s most significant educators, including Bank Street Founder Lucy Sprague Mitchell, whose teachings helped shape her child-centered, progressive approach to learning.
In her 1999 essay titled Thoughts on Bank Street College of Education, Evelyn recounted a hands-on topography lesson led by Mitchell in which students built landscapes out of clay and poured water over the model to observe how it interacted with the terrain—an experience that brought abstract concepts to life and exemplified Bank Street’s experiential approach to learning.
“The visual reality of sea levels, beaches, oceans, and mountains under the oceans as water was poured into the pan became strikingly apparent. When learning takes place through all the senses, the cognitive experience is yours forever,” she wrote. “The Bank Street experience was such a highlight in my life. A good part of the molding of ‘me’ happened there and has, like a precious thread, woven through my entire life.”
After Bank Street, Evelyn accepted a teaching position at the Midwood Day Care Center in Brooklyn. The following year, after marrying and moving to Pennsylvania, she continued her work in education as a substitute teacher at the Friends’ Central School in Wynnewood, PA.
As a mother of six, Evelyn often drew on her developmental knowledge and training to support her children’s growth with care and intention.
Reflecting on those years in her essay, Evelyn wrote, “My Bank Street approach and background in psychology gave me a much-needed measure of confidence and competence! My children were lucky, and their lives so enriched, to have a Bank Street experience in Pennsylvania! Methods, materials, and activities were numerous and voluminous.”
Throughout her life, Evelyn remained closely connected to Bank Street. At the age of 70, she returned to the Graduate School to complete her master’s degree, reflecting her deep commitment to lifelong learning. Evelyn also participated in several of Bank Street’s Long Trips in the 1990s, such as to Asheville, North Carolina, and Santa Fe, New Mexico.
At the 50th Reunion of the Class of 1946, Evelyn shared, “The enriching experience of my Bank Street education has colored my life with every hue of the rainbow. I have continued on my life’s journey as a sensitive, enthusiastic participant, as well as a keen observer. I’m still a hands-on learner, always in a growth mode to broaden my horizons.”
In the years that followed, Evelyn continued to be an active member of the community, serving on the Bank Street Board of Trustees from 1984–2010 and generously supporting the College through philanthropic gifts, including the Tabas Auditorium, named in recognition of the Tabas family. The auditorium remains a cherished gathering space today for students, families, and educators.
Beyond Bank Street, Evelyn was a board member of the former Teen-Aid organization in Philadelphia, honorary chairperson of the “Gift of Time” positive parenting program with the American Family Institute of Valley Forge, and honorary director of United Cerebral Palsy of Philadelphia, among other leadership roles. She was also on the board of Royal Bancshares of Pennsylvania and was a trustee of the Daniel M. Tabas Family Foundation.
Evelyn was married to the late Daniel M. Tabas for 54 years. She is survived by her six children, 20 grandchildren, and 18 great-grandchildren.
She is widely remembered for her kindness, empathy, and lifelong commitment to philanthropic service. She has left a lasting impact on the communities she served and on her family across generations.