Doris Leah Wortman

With sadness, we are writing to share that our mother, Doris Leah Wortman, died on December 1, 2022. We are blessed that Doris remained cognitively sharp up to the end of her long life, 93 years and 3 months. Doris died at her home of 55 years in Bethesda, Maryland, as she wished, with her three children (Marc, Judith, and Paul) by her side. Doris was married for 64 years to our father, Dr. Bernard Wortman. Bernie predeceased her in 2016, at 92 and a half years of age. Doris was kind, patient, generous, stoic, creative, intelligent, strong and incredibly resilient.

Doris was born in Columbus, Ohio, of Jewish Russian immigrant parents, Abraham Mahlis and Pelta (Pauline) Margolin. Her older sister, Blumie Mahlis, predeceased her.

Doris received her undergraduate degree in Social Work from Ohio State University in Columbus, where she met and later married Bernie. Our parents loved each other very much. In the 1950's and 60's, Doris worked as a homemaker/housewife (in Columbus, St. Louis, Uppsala, Sweden, Albany, NY, and Bethesda). When her children were teenagers, Doris worked full-time as a social worker for Montgomery County Maryland Social Services. She was also a dedicated longtime volunteer for several organizations, primarily, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). Reading, birdwatching, and gardening were among her many hobbies.

Doris and Bernie shared many good years of retirement together prior to Bernie's death. She is survived by her three children, Judith, Marc, and Paul, her daughter-in-law Jodi, and two grandchildren, Rebecca Sananes and Charlie (daughter of Marc, and son of Marc and Jodi). Doris loved us very much and we all have fond memories of her.

Doris will be buried next to Bernie in Crownsville Veterans Cemetery in Maryland, with the service officiated by a dear friend of the family, Rabbi Robbie Harris.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Doris and Bernard Wortman, can be made to NAMI of Montgomery County MD - https://namimc.org or https://namimc.salsalabs.org/2022EOYAppeal/index.html .

Doris will be missed and fondly remembered.