Gerri was born in the Bronx, New York but never sounded like a New Yorker. Although born to parents of minimal means, she was a graduate of City College of New York, and spent most of her career teaching third graders who required remedial reading assistance. In this way, she helped hundreds of children to become better readers and contributed to them being successful adults.
At 16 she met her future husband, Coleman Mandelblit, who passed away in 2014 after 59 years of marriage. They married when Gerri was 21 and lived in Baltimore, Lehigh, Pa, Katonah NY (where they raised their son and daughter), and finally in Roswell and Alpharetta, GA.
Gerri was a very good and involved mother and a spectacularly hands-on, fun grandmother who loved to sit on the floor playing with her grandchildren. Unfortunately, depression and anxiety were a constant issue. After her husband passed away, shopping for clothes and inexpensive jewelry became a favorite hobby which brought her great joy. Gerri also had brittle diabetes, heart disease that resulted in two heart attacks, and over the past few years, dementia. She was known as the best dresser in her facility and to the end, wore jewelry and nice clothes. Despite her medical issues, Gerri lived significantly longer than she or anyone else expected.
She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Paula and David Bloom of Milton, GA and their children, Alexander Bloom and Corinne Bloom Williams. Her son and daughter-in-law, Craig and Christie Mandelblit, live in Apex, North Carolina and have two sons, Eric and Mathew Mandelblit. Gerri is also survived by her sister, Beverly Margolis, who lives in Westchester, NY.
Donations can be made to The Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation https://www.alzinfo.org
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