Gladys Sorentrue

Gladys Sorentrue, a native of Georgia and long-time resident of Washington, passed away on February 8. She was 98. Burial is at Crest Lawn Cemetery in Atlanta, Georgia on Tuesday February 11, at 12:00. A memorial service is planned for Gladys at Washington Hebrew Congregation on Macomb Street later in the week. Gladys graduated with a degree in business from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She then worked for the Veterans Administration and the War Production Board in Washington. She met her first husband, William Crystal, in Washington, and together they developed a successful business in Atlanta, Georgia -- Crystal's, Inc. Originally an infant's and children's shop, Crystal's expanded into several locations with apparel for teenage girls and for brides. After her husband's death in 1981, Gladys moved to Washington DC and in 1984 married Simon Sorentrue, a native of Charleston, SC. With Simon she enjoyed more than a decade of travel, leisure, and friendship. In recent years she has been close companions with Herman Orentlicher and then for the last ten years with Gene Davidson. Gladys was extremely active in community affairs both at her synagogue, Washington Hebrew Congregation, and at her condominium, Van Ness North. At Washington Hebrew she organized programs and luncheons for Primer Timers. She was heavily involved in the activities of the Van Ness co-op, was instrumental in recruiting qualified residents to serve on the board, and, even though past 90, was willing to expend the time and energy to run for a seat on the board herself. Gladys was also very active in Democratic politics, engaging in both fund raising and campaigning for presidential and senatorial candidates. Gladys and her brother Fred were extremely close throughout their lives and especially so in their later years. They accompanied each other to appointments, lectures, services, and social gatherings. Relationships with people were the focus of Gladys's life. She thrived on their friendship and they on hers. She was always willing to help others, and was never reluctant to give advice to those in need of her guidance. She is survived by her son, Nathan Crystal (Francesca Giannoni-Crystal), four grandchildren: Abraham Joseph (Kathleen Pierce), Miriam Emily, Tommaso Ceccuzzi, and Julianna Rose; and two great-grandsons (Simon Suarez and Philip Howard). She was the loving mother-in-law of Nancy McCormick, the close sister-in-law of Anita Solomon, and the devoted aunt of Andy Solomon and of Laurie Cohen (David) and their two daughters, Sarah-Bracha and Toba Cohen. Gladys's extended family includes Diane Orentlicher (Mort Halperin), and David Orenticher (Judy Failer) and their two children (Cy and Shayna). Contributions may be made to Washington Hebrew Congregation (Prime Timers) or to Jewish National Fund (Trees in Israel.)