Sonia Morris, 92; 50-Year Resident, Sobriety Counselor

Sonia Morris, a longtime Palisadian who was 50 years sober and a crack New York Times puzzler, died February 11. She was 92. Morris was born on November 17, 1919 and grew up among the pushcarts on Avenue C on New York’s Lower East Side. A talented writer, she was awarded the first place medal in composition at PS 15, a prize she held onto her entire life. Her journey to Pacific Palisades began when her husband, Misha, a writer for the popular radio show ‘The Goldbergs,’ landed a job writing for ‘The Secret Storm,’ and in 1959 the family packed up and drove to Hollywood in a lavender-and-white Studebaker convertible. June 16, 1961, was a bittersweet day for Sonia: her first day as a single woman, her first day of sobriety, and the day her life in the Palisades began. For the next 50 years, Sonia blossomed here. She held several jobs locally, working for Dr. Hinich, a dentist in town, and for Palisades Heating and Air Conditioning. Proud of her 50 years of sobriety, Sonia helped countless people in their efforts to recover from alcoholism. A gregarious woman with a great wit and sense of humor, Sonia was a great conversationalist and enjoyed lively debate. She also looked forward to completing the N.Y. Times crossword puzzle daily, in ink. When Sonia first arrived in the Palisades, she lived in an old apartment building on the corner of Wildomar and Sunset for 19 years, until it was slated for demolition to make way for a new apartment building. Sonia fought the eviction, unsuccessfully, but not without a fight, which was chronicled in the Palisadian-Post. She moved to a building between Almar and El Medio until 2011, when she transitioned to Sunrise Assisted Living. She loved the fact that she had spent 50 years living within a mile radius of ‘one of the most beautiful places on earth.’ Sonia enjoyed driving her old white Corvair back and forth to the village until she finally gave up driving in favor of the Big Blue Bus. She loved the new adventure and even wrote an essay for the Post recounting her conversation with local teenagers whom she met on the bus.   Sonia is survived by her daughter, Shari Monroe of Washington State, and grandsons Anthony, Levey and David Gailinas. Her daughter Felicia predeceased her in 1995.   There was a reception to honor Sonia’s life on Valentine’s Day at the Palisades Woman’s Club.