Eileen Helen Glaser

Eileen was born in Brooklyn, New York on January 27, 1922 to Morris and Lillian Bohrer. She grew up with siblings Gladys, one year her senior, followed by Anne, seven years and Jonas ten years her junior.

The family moved to Pittsfield, Massachusetts where she spent her childhood, before returning to Brooklyn where she finished high school and started her career. Her mother Lillian was quite the “fashionista” and young in spirit, so she and her sisters were surrounded by style and a youthful outlook on life. So it was natural that she would follow a path of fashion and design, beginning with her high school years at the Manhattan School of Design, where she graduated in 1940.

Starting a career as a young woman in the late 1930’s and early 1940’s was a concept ahead of her time. She began with her first position as principal designer at Greenburg and Sons children’s apparel in Manhattan. Then, as the US entered World War II, she married Irving Kravitz, who joined the war effort and was sent to Europe shortly thereafter. There, in France in the last days of the war, tragically he was killed in action and Eileen became a young widow. It was not until the late 1940’s when she met and married David Glaser, her husband of 48 years. The ceremony was held at New York’s Tavern on the Green on July 22, 1948 and was celebrated by the extended Glaser family and friends. She began her new career as wife, mother and hotelier in Middletown New York. And as a horsewoman, her husband’s passion. Always dressed, of course in the latest of equine fashion.

Eileen raised two daughters with David, Janice and Karen, born in 1950 and 1952. She managed the hotel , was active in the community, a member of the Sisterhood and Hadassah, as well as continuing to utilize her design talent in creating custom women and children’s clothing, costumes for theatrical productions and Ballet recitals. In 1961 the family moved to Huntington, New York where they settled until 1975 again, as a hoteliers and involved as contributing members of growing Township. Once their daughters completed their university and Masters programs they decided to settle in Silver Spring, Maryland, close to family and cultural offerings of Washington, D.C. She remained there for the past 40 years, traveling extensively with David locally and abroad until his death in 1995, when by wonderful happenstance, she began her third career.

Joining her daughter Janice and husband Alan in their corporation Silverstone Design, Eileen rediscovered her graphic design talents and began creating gift and holiday luxury objects, as well as recreating designs of The Forbes’ Collection of Faberge Eggs in European glass and her eponymous lines of “Fabulous Femmes Shopping the World” and “Cell phone Femmes” hand blown Italian creations. She met celetries, traveled to factory locations throughout Europe, attended trade shows in Europe and the U.S. and worked with the Silverstone Design network of showrooms and two retail locations, enjoying celebrity at personal appearances under the penname “Ilene design” well into her 80’s, when she retired but continued on as a consultant.

Eileen celebrated the years of her 80’s and 90’s with the same presence, involvement and activity as she had lived in her younger years. Her fashion sense and style was ever present, dressing in youthful but elegant outfits and hairstyles that always elicited comments. No “old lady” looks for Eileen. Following her appearance, she lived with a philosophy of positive acceptance of change, adapted to the computer age becoming adept online, as well as with her iphone and Apple watch. Always ready to learn about the next new product, medical discovery, political approach, she commented and participated in life up to and until her 103rd birthday on January 27, 2025. She was determined to join in and celebrate this momentous occasion, and she did.

She enjoyed life with all its challenges and joy. She was beloved by all she met:

“A beautiful lady” “An inspiration” “She touched the lives of many” “A blessing” “An amazing lady” “Extraordinary” “An angel” “A great lady” “Always elegant” “Thoughtful and caring” “A force of nature” “A remarkable woman”

Indeed, a life well lived… she will be missed…

A calling hour for Eileen will be held Thursday, April 10, 2025 at 4:00 PM at Joseph Gawler's Sons, LLC, 5130 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20016, followed by a funeral service at 5:00 PM.