Gloria A. Adelman RN
ADELMAN, Gloria A., 80, Mars Hill & Naples, in Mars Hill, January 3, 2010. Arrangements are in the care of Brookings Smith Funeral Home, Bangor.
MARS HILL and NAPLES, FLA. – Gloria Adelman, 80, died peacefully Jan. 3, 2010, surrounded by her family, at a Mars Hill healthcare facility. She was born Jan. 18, 1929, in Fort Fairfield, the daughter of Vavel and Grace Giggey.
Gloria graduated from Fort Fairfield High School in 1947 and from Madigan Hospital School of Nursing in 1950. She was happily married to Milton Adelman of Mars Hill in 1954. An accomplished registered nurse and leader, Gloria will be remembered for her competent, can-do attitude and her professional and personal contributions to the Mars Hill community. Gloria served as the first director of nurses at The Aroostook Health Center nursing home when it opened, later served as the director of nurses at Fort Fairfield Hospital, and returned to Mars Hill as the administrator for The Aroostook Health Center, where she was known for her high standards of excellence and professionalism. She served as a director and chairman of the board of SAD 42 and was the first female member of the Mars Hill Rotary Club. In addition, Gloria was president of the Lake Meddybemps Association, served on the board of directors of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Maine, and was an active and supportive member of the Aroostook Community Hebrew Center in Presque Isle.
After raising six children and retiring from her career in healthcare, Gloria maintained an active life with interests in politics, needlepoint, golfing, bridge and reading. It was not uncommon for Gloria to polish off several hardback books in a week, and she was the first grandmother to ride a waverunner down Meddybemps Lake. Gloria had great love for her winters in Naples, Fla., and summers at Meddybemps and Mars Hill.
Gloria was preceded in death by her parents and sister Patricia Cole. She is survived by her husband, Milton, and their six children: Hy and Brook Merrow Adelman of Bozeman, Mont., Cathy and Alan Adelman of Malibu, Calif., Toby Adelman RN, PhD, of San Jose, Calif., Todd and Kristin Adelman of Rollinsford, N.H., Scott Adelman, MD and Karen of Park City, Utah, and Karyn Adelman-Fessenden and Robb Fessenden of Crested Butte, Colo.; 11 grandchildren: Jake and Nate Adelman of Bozeman, Mont., Tucker, Zoe, Satchel and Deker Adelman of Rollinsford, N.H., Shy Adelman of San Jose, Calif., Haley and Sophie Adelman of Park City, Utah, and Lily and Cedar Fessenden of Crested Butte, Colo.; sisters Dawn Caprarelli of Santa Clarita, Calif., and Jessie Thompson of Fort Fairfield; and many nieces and nephews. Gloria also leaves many dear friends in Mars Hill and Naples, Fla., including Margaret Stevens of Naples and Rollinsford, N.H., and Georgia Nicholas and Judy Doak of Mars Hill, the sunshine girls who could always bring a smile to Gloria’s face and bring out her wonderful sense of humor.
The Adelman family would like to thank Dr. Eric Nicholas and the entire staff of The Aroostook Health Center for their professional care and exceptional service. Gloria loved to sit in her greenhouse and watch the beautiful Mars Hill Mountain where her children spent many winter days skiing.
Donations may be made in Gloria’s memory to The Aroostook Health Center Activity Fund, Box 410, Mars Hill, ME 04758 for the purpose of building a patio in front of the medical center for the residents to enjoy the same view of the mountain that she did. Funeral services were held at 2 p.m., Mon., Jan. 4, 2010 at the Jewish Chapel, 118 Center St., Bangor with Rabbi Steven Schwarzman, officiating. Condolences to the family may be expressed at www.BrookingsSmith.com.
