Eileen M. Ilberman, 62, of Old Saybrook, CT and Rancho Mirage, CA, was released from pain on November 22, 2013. Beloved wife of Barry Ilberman, devoted mother of Jodi Hope (Ilberman) and Christopher Soloperto, adoring ‘Gabby” to Emma Beth and Jason Bauer Soloperto, was born on April 11, 1951 in Rockland County, New York. She was the daughter of Elaine (Morganbesser) Mellion and the late Franklyn B. Mellion. Eileen graduated from Nanuet HS in 1969 and from Russell Sage College with a BA in Fine Arts-Art History in 1973. While at Sage, she met, fell in love, and married Barry Ilberman (RPI ’72). ‘Mellion’, as he called her, and Barry settled in CT where she was a docent at the Hartford Atheneum, a free lance calligrapher and avid student of culinary arts(especially desserts), until they relocated to NYC. Her true mission in life was being Jodi’s mom and Barry’s wife. She also volunteered extensively and had deep personal concern for so many of the people she came to know. Her genuine warmth and depth of character, as well as her total commitment, were evident in her many personal and philanthropic activities. Despite the many medical problems she was forced to deal with due to Marfan Syndrome with its severe scoliosis and other cardiac and orthopedic problems, she worked tirelessly as the Founder and President of the Connecticut Chapter of the National Scoliosis Foundation and the Connecticut Chapter of The Marfan Foundation. Eileen also seved as Secretary of the Board of The Marfan Foundation and on the Board of the National Scoliosis Foundation. She was very proud and honored to be awarded the second annual Spirit of Service Award by The Marfan Foundation in September, 2013. Besides her husband, children, and grandchildren, Eileen leaves behind her mother Elaine Mellion, her brother David Mellion and family, her many nieces and nephews, and her many deeply-loved friends. Eileen was pre-deceased by her father Franklyn B. Mellion and her beloved “sistah”, her very best friend, the yin to her yang, Debra Ann (Mellion) Prastien, Sage ’75. Eileen’s extraordinary personal courage during her extended bouts of ill health and her heroic efforts to meet her many obligations and commitments were an inspiration to us all. She will be sorely missed by all whose lives she touched, and all of us will miss her beauty, grace, wry wit, attention to detail, and unique sense of humor.
Funeral services will be held at 12 noon on Monday, November 25, 2013 at Congregation Beth Shalom Rodfe Zedek, 55 East Kings Highway, Chester, CT 06412 with Rabbi Rachel Goldenberg officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The National Marfan Foundations’ Eileen M. Ilberman Orthopaedic Research Fund, Russell Sage College’s Mellion Sisters’ Fund, the National Scoliosis Foundation, or Autism Speaks. Arrangements are entrusted to Weinstein Mortuary, Hartford, CT. For further information, directions, or to sign the guest book for Eileen, please visit online at www.weinsteinmortuary.com/funerals.cfm.
