Geraldine Hantman

Geraldine (Gerry) Ruda Hantman (96) died at home in Waban, MA on November 9, 2023. Born and raised in London, England where her parents, Clara and Aaron (Harry) Ruda ran a men’s wear business. She was 12 years old during WW2 and due to the London Blitz, she and her younger brother, Laurie Ruda were evacuated to Brooklyn, New York, where they were each placed with Jewish families. Her younger sister Shirley Ruda (Kutz), who was only 18 months old at the time, was sent out to the UK countryside.

After the war, they reunited in London, and Gerry attended the Paris School of Design in London where she became a proficient milliner and dress designer and designed and sewed many of her own clothes and later those of her children. She married her husband, Lionel Louis Hantman, a chemist with the Gillette company on April 5th, 1951. They emigrated to St. Paul, MN with their newborn daughter, Elaine in 1955 and soon moved to Chicago expanding their family with two sons, Paul and Michael. There, Gerry completed her bachelor’s degree in computer sciences at Roosevelt University, becoming the first in her family to attend college.

While in Chicago, she was involved with workshops at the Lincoln Park Art Center and the Art Institute of Chicago working with acrylic paints and ceramics. Lou’s promotion in 1969 prompted the family’s move to Waban, MA where Gerry completed her master’s degree in counseling at Boston College. She also pursued her studio art training in the studios of several local artists and at the Boston Museum of Art and the de Cordova Museum. She was prolific in producing serene paintings of nature, including those of sea and sand and mountains and fields and lively scenes of people. She had several exhibits, and her paintings adorn the walls of all her children and many of her grandchildren.

Lou and Gerry have been married for 72 years, and received a special Platinum 70th Wedding Anniversary acknowledgement from Queen Elizabeth in April, 2021. Gerry loved keeping her husband and herself healthy and fit, always exercising, doing yoga, meditation and walking throughout their adult years. She is survived by her loving husband, Louis, their children, Elaine, Paul, and Michael Hantman, grandchildren, Jennifer, David, and Laura Rosenthal, Rachel, Harry and Tyler Hantman, step-grandchildren, Sarah Psillas, Ben Waters, and Noah Ongart, step great-grandchildren, Oliver, Theodore, Niko, Leila, and many nieces and nephews in England and Israel. Gerry’s family especially want to express their deep appreciation and gratitude to Sandy Talley and Sandra Henry, as well as Dorothy, Gloria and all of her caregivers who loved her and ensured her happiness and comfort over the last many years of her life.

Graveside services on Sunday, November 12 at 2:30pm at Temple Beth El Cemetery, 100 Waverly Avenue Chelmsford, MA. To live steam the service, please use this link, https://youtube.com/live/F166-VePjyk?feature=share

Shiva will be at the family home on Sunday from 5:00-7:00pm and on Monday and Tuesday form 2:00-4:00pm

In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Hebrew SeniorLife, www.hebrewseniorlife.org/giving or a charity of your choice.