Gay Letta Swartz Goldstein

Gay Letta Swartz Goldstein, 100, died on September 14, 2026, in West Bloomfield, Michigan. Born on May 25, 1926, in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, she built a distinguished life in science and education and later made her home in Las Vegas, Nevada and West Bloomfield Township, Michigan.

She graduated from Pennsylvania State College, now Penn State University, on August 9, 1947, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in medical technology at the university’s summer commencement. On December 23, 1948, she married Robert Goldstein of Plymouth, Pennsylvania, at Agudath Achim Synagogue in Huntingdon.

In St. Louis, Missouri, Gay worked as a laboratory researcher and chemistry assistant at Washington University School of Medicine. She provided technical and chemistry support for important cardiovascular and hypertension research, including “Pressor Substances in Arterial Hypertension,” published in Circulation, and “Circulatory and Respiratory Effects of Adenosine Triphosphate in Man.” Her contributions to the former were formally acknowledged by researchers in the Hypertension Division and the Oscar Johnson Institute.

At the time, Washington University’s clinical departments worked closely with The Jewish Hospital of St. Louis, which later merged with Barnes Hospital to form today’s Barnes-Jewish Hospital.

In 1967, Gay and Robert, who held a Ph.D., moved to Madison, Wisconsin. During the 1970s and 1980s, Gay taught in and later directed the Medical Laboratory Technician associate degree program in the Health Sciences school at Madison Area Technical College, now Madison College.

In 1980, she earned a master’s degree in vocational education from the University of Wisconsin–Stout in Menomonie, Wisconsin.

Gay and Robert relocated to Las Vegas in 1994. There, she remained active in the community as a volunteer and committee member, contributing her time to Midbar Kodesh Temple and to lifelong-learning programs, including OLLI at UNLV.

In 2020, while maintaining her primary home in Las Vegas, Nevada, Gay spent extended periods in West Bloomfield Township, Michigan, first living with her son, Neal, and daughter in law, Jacqueline Goldstein, and later residing at the Fleischman Residence, an assisted living community.

In West Bloomfield Township, Michigan, she became an active member of Congregation B’nai Moshe, where she was deeply cherished by the community. Her kindness and spirit were equally treasured by family friends across Michigan and Wisconsin.

Gay was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Goldstein, and her parents, Marie (née Sokolove) and Abraham Swartz. She is survived by her sons, Mark Goldstein (Gail Alcalay) and Neal Goldstein (Jacqueline), and seven grandchildren: Nathan Goldstein, Benjamin Goldstein, Audrey Goldstein, Rena Alcalay, Alix Goldstein, Ruben Goldstein, and Silvi Goldstein.