Sandra (Kaufman) Gershman

Sandra (Kaufman) Gershman, of Mamaroneck, NY, formerly of West Hartford, CT and Naples, FL, died Thursday, February 4, 2021 at the age of 91.Sandra was the widow of Melvin Y. Gershman, her husband for over 62 years. Born in Hartford, CT, she was the daughter of the late Harry and Alice Kaufman.

A former elementary school teacher at the Noah Webster School in Hartford, Sandra received her BA from St. Joseph College, where she graduated as class valedictorian, and her MA from the University of Hartford. She and Mel raised their family in West Hartford where they were longstanding members of Beth El Temple. After Mel retired, they divided their time between Naples, FL and Lenox, MA. In both locations they were avid theatergoers and supporters of Tanglewood and the Naples Philharmonic. Sandra was a committed volunteer for many years for the American Jewish Congress and later for Hadassah.

Sandra was an avid reader and a perpetual learner, who thrived on lively conversations about both literature and current events. She was a devoted mother and grandmother, and is survived by her son, Donald Gershman and his fiancée Deborah Lesser of West Hartford, CT; her daughter, Karen Klein and her husband Jay of Scarsdale, NY;her sister, Rhoda Sumner of Silver Spring, MD; and six grandchildren, Stephen Gershman and his wife Emily Holzman of Arlington, MA; Carolyn Gershman of Washington, DC; Sara Gershman of Washington, DC; Julia Klein of New York, NY; Joshua Klein of Scarsdale, NY; and Aliza Klein of Rochester, NY.

Private graveside funeral services will be held on Monday, February 8, 2021 at the Piaterer Verein Society Cemetery with Rabbi James Rosen officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Hadassah (40 Wall St., New York, NY 10005 or www.hadassah.org/donate) or to Beth El Temple of West Hartford (2626 Albany Ave., West Hartford, CT 06117 or www.bethelwesthartford.org/giving/give-now).

Arrangements are entrusted to Weinstein Mortuary, Hartford, CT. For further information, directions or to sign the guest book for Sandra, please visit online at www.weinsteinmortuary.com/funerals.cfm.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Hadassah (40 Wall St., New York, NY 10005 or www.hadassah.org/donate) or to Beth El Temple of West Hartford (2626 Albany Ave., West Hartford, CT 06117 or www.bethelwesthartford.org/giving/give-now).