Geraldine P. Geltman Obituary (2009)

Geltman, Geraldine P. age 87, of Minnetonka. Gerry passed away Tuesday, February, 24, 2009 after a period of declining health. A good heart and a determined, positive attitude towards life - its joys and sorrows were Gerry's hallmarks. She passed as she lived, with grace. Gerry, Geri, Gerri, was a graduate of Washburn High School and The University of Minnesota. She was a member of Sigma Delta Tau. Gerry married Robert Geltman of Cleveland, Ohio in front of the fireplace at Oak Ridge Country Club, Hopkins, Minnesota. Together they had two daughters, Nancy Wright Geltman and Jane Elizabeth Geltman and raised them in their beloved Knollwood neighborhood. Gerry was active in Republican politics, The Hopkins Library Board, an original member of "Book Club", the first female non-widow member of the Minneapolis Club, member of Temple Israel, The Oak Ridge Country Club and The Friday Game. Gerry was a voracious reader, a New York Times crossword puzzle champ, a woman of culture and grace, an astute business woman, a good friend and a wonderful GiGi to her grands and greats. Upon the death of her husband, Gerry became President of The Geltman Corporation, a textile processing company with factories in Cleveland, Ohio, Patterson, New Jersey, Minneapolis, Minnesota and Hickory, North Carolina. She garnered the respect of this male dominated industry and was a success in her own right. In 1976, Gerry contracted Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura. This rare disease would transform her next 33 years of life. Thanks to the skill and dedication of Dr. Solomon J. Zak, Gerry enjoyed the gift of watching her grandchildren and great-grandchildren navigate this world. Along the journey, Gerry cherished the good friendship and caring of Dr. Dale Hammerschmid, Dr. Ronald Kaufman, Dr. Maria Leisz, Dr. Douglas Talus, Audrey Wick, Gretchen Bryteson, Nancy Loebertmann, Marcia Olson, Mary Rubin, Sara Hayes, Phil Kreiber, Mike Silvia, Sharon Lindberg, Sherry Reeves, Marina Milyavskaya, Elizabeth Osana, Kaymah Johnson, Kim Harris and Dean Hughes. Preceded in death by husband, Robert M. Geltman; beloved daughter, Nancy Geltman Shiller; parents, Samuel and Rebecca Pink. Survived by daughter and son-in-law, Jane (Jonathan) Gordon; grandchildren, her #1 partner in crime, Robert (Christine) Shiller, of Littleton, Co., Elizabeth "Betsy" (Noel) Hara of Chicago, Il., Thomas "T.J." (Terri) Gordon of Highland Park, Il., Katie (Thomas) Cohen of Deephaven, Mn., and Elizabeth Gordon of Minneapolis, Mn. Great-grandchildren, Samuel Shiller, Jordan and Nathan Hara, Olivia and Jack Gordon; brother and sister- in-law, Jack (Liz) Pink of Golden Valley, Mn. Graveside service THURSDAY (TODAY) 10 AM at TEMPLE ISRAEL MEMORIAL PARK, 42nd St. & 3rd Ave., Mpls. Memorials are preferred to The Nancy Geltman Shiller Library, 701 Park Avenue, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55415. SHIVA, Roitenberg Assisted Living, 3610 Phillips Pkwy., St. Louis Park (Thursday 7 PM). Hodroff-Epstein 612-871-1234 www.hodroffepstein.com