| Estelle B. Sody Gelman |
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2009
Estelle B. Gelman, 83, president of the Gelman Cos., a real estate development and management company in Washington, and a local philanthropist, died
Oct. 23 at her home in Washington. She had Alzheimer's disease.
Estelle started working for the Gelman Cos. as a member of the board of directors during the 1960s. She had been president since 1978.
Mrs. Gelman served on the board of trustees and was a past president of the Washington chapter of the American Cancer Society, and she organized its
annual benefit. She served on the board of directors of the Washington chapter of the Jewish Social Service Agency, the Jewish Federation of Greater
Washington, George Washington University and the National Symphony Orchestra.
During the early 1980s, she endowed the Melvin Gelman Religious School, named after her late husband, at Adas Israel Congregation in the District, of
which she was a member.
During the mid-1980s, she endowed the Gelman Home in Silver Spring, a group home for adults with special needs that was established by the Jewish
Foundation for Group Homes, a nonprofit that provides support and services for disabled adults.
She received the B'nai B'rith International Humanitarian Award in 1986, the Aunt Minnie Goldsmith Award from the Hebrew Home of Greater Washington
in 1988, and the Joseph Ottenstein Award from the Jewish Social Service Agency in 1996. All of those honors recognized her contributions to individuals
in need.
Estelle Blanche Sody was a native Washingtonian and a 1943 graduate of Calvin Coolidge High School. In the mid-1940s, she received a degree from the
Washington School for Secretaries. During the 1950s, she worked as a paralegal for a Washington law firm.
Her husband of 32 years, Melvin Gelman, died in 1978.
Survivors include two daughters, Elise Lefkowitz and Elaine Miller, both of Washington; a sister, Charlotte Rudden of Bethesda; five grandchildren; and a
great-grandson.
-- Lauren Wiseman
Estelle B. Gelman, 83, president of the Gelman Cos., a real estate development and management company in Washington, and a local philanthropist, died
Oct. 23 at her home in Washington. She had Alzheimer's disease.
Estelle started working for the Gelman Cos. as a member of the board of directors during the 1960s. She had been president since 1978.
Mrs. Gelman served on the board of trustees and was a past president of the Washington chapter of the American Cancer Society, and she organized its
annual benefit. She served on the board of directors of the Washington chapter of the Jewish Social Service Agency, the Jewish Federation of Greater
Washington, George Washington University and the National Symphony Orchestra.
During the early 1980s, she endowed the Melvin Gelman Religious School, named after her late husband, at Adas Israel Congregation in the District, of
which she was a member.
During the mid-1980s, she endowed the Gelman Home in Silver Spring, a group home for adults with special needs that was established by the Jewish
Foundation for Group Homes, a nonprofit that provides support and services for disabled adults.
She received the B'nai B'rith International Humanitarian Award in 1986, the Aunt Minnie Goldsmith Award from the Hebrew Home of Greater Washington
in 1988, and the Joseph Ottenstein Award from the Jewish Social Service Agency in 1996. All of those honors recognized her contributions to individuals
in need.
Estelle Blanche Sody was a native Washingtonian and a 1943 graduate of Calvin Coolidge High School. In the mid-1940s, she received a degree from the
Washington School for Secretaries. During the 1950s, she worked as a paralegal for a Washington law firm.
Her husband of 32 years, Melvin Gelman, died in 1978.
Survivors include two daughters, Elise Lefkowitz and Elaine Miller, both of Washington; a sister, Charlotte Rudden of Bethesda; five grandchildren; and a
great-grandson.
-- Lauren Wiseman