Obituary of Evelyn Geldon

Excerpt regarding the death of Art, Marc, Lenny, and Ira's mother, Evelyn Geldon My mother, Evelyn Geldon died on Tuesday, January 15, 2013, in Fort Myers from breathing problems related to Alzheimer's disease. She was 88 years old. Evelyn was born to Samuel and Ella Gelbman on May 15, 1924. She grew up in Yonkers and graduated from Yonkers High School in June 1942. Like the iconic Rosie the Riveter, she worked on aircraft assembly lines during World War II. Evelyn married Martin Geldon on July 15, 1946, in the Bronx, N.Y. Marty was a resident of New York City prior to his marriage to Evelyn. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II, participating in the defense of the Hawaiian Islands and the invasion of the Palau Archipelago. Evelyn and Marty lived in Yonkers during the first 21 years of their marriage. During this period, they raised four children, Art, Marc, Lenny, and Ira Geldon. Evelyn worked tirelessly to improve the quality of care available to people afflicted with autism, like her son, Ira. She always had a special place in her heart for dogs and usually had 2-5 dogs in the house, most of whom were rescued from animal shelters. In 1967, Evelyn and Marty moved from New York to Florida, where they lived in Hollywood and Fort Lauderdale. In 1985, they moved to North Carolina, where they lived in Greensboro, Raleigh, and Albemarle. In Raleigh, Evelyn and Marty worked door-to-door to compile the 1990 U.S. Census. For most of their lives together, Evelyn worked as a secretary, bookkeeper, or office manager, and Marty worked as a salesman or security guard. Evelyn was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 57 years, Marty Geldon; her brother, Marvin Gelbman; sisters-in-law, Edith Weinstein Gelbman and Anna Lutz Gelbman; a son, Lenny Geldon; a daughter-in-law, Tonya Peters Geldon; a grandson, Marc Samuel Geldon; and many cousins. She is survived by three sons, Art (Tracy) Geldon, Marc (Esperanza) Geldon, and Ira Geldon; a grandson, Jordan Geldon; a grand-daughter, Kimberly Geldon; nephews, Alex (Mimi) Gelbman and Barry (Carla) Gelbman; nieces Eileen McGinnis, Gayle Cole, and Lynne Gelbman; and cousins Burt, Howard, and Donald Gelbman; Eleanore Bomwell, Ruth Stone, Judy Goldsmith, and Connie Lessoff.