Sonya “Sunny” Sobel Stern Richman, 87, died from complications of Alzheimer's disease at her Center City home April 22, where she lived with her husband of 18 years, John A. Ryan, and her step-granddaughter.

For years she took music lessons and was accepted into the Curtis Institute of Music. Much to her parents' dismay, Richman rejected a music career to become a teacher. After entering the School District of Philadelphia in 1956, Richman was a member of the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers from her first day at school and dedicated hours to the union. She was a member of the negotiating team that obtained a collective bargaining agreement that set the Philadelphia teachers' salary schedule as the highest among large cities in the United States and the highest of any school district in Pennsylvania. The restrictions on female teachers were abolished and maternity leave protections were revolutionized, according to a press release.

In 1973, fighting for improvements in the educational system and for the rights of thousands of teachers and other school employees, Richman became a leader in a very lengthy strike. In defying the judicial order to end the strike, she and the executive board of the union were convicted in a jury trial, according to the release.

Richman returned to the classroom in 1986 when she enrolled at Temple University Law School and earned her law degree in 1989. As a lawyer, her main areas of practice had been as an advocate in child dependency matters and defense of indigent criminal defendants. As a master she served as a master in emergency “protection from abuse” cases and as a master in truancy for the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas.

From 1991 to 2005, Richman served as secretary of the executive committee of the criminal justice section of the Philadelphia Bar Association.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by her daughter, Robin Richman (Bruce Auerbach), five stepchildren, three grandchildren, six step-grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and six step-great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her name may be made to the Jazz Bridge Project, Settlement Music School or Concerts at the Cathedral.