Gertrude Kartzmer's Obituary
Gertrude Kartzmer (Gitty) wife of Melvin Kartzmer born 1929 to Sol and Sadie Breeskin, hotel owners in the Catskills Mountains and Lakewood, NJ. She graduated Rutgers University as a music major with a dream of being the first female conductor of a major symphony orchestra. She met her future husband in 1950 at her family Catskill hotel. Mel was there as a waiter and it was love at first sight. Both of them became inseparable through that summer and fall. they married in January 1951 and Mel was drafted into the army one week later. She followed Mel through his various army assignments and worked as a music teacher and choral director in NJ and VA. A business opportunity triggered a move to Florida in 1959 and with 2 children in tow they settled in North Dade, teaching many of the neighborhood children to play piano.
"Gitty" comes from a long line of accomplished musicians. Her brother, Barnett, was a skilled violinist and he founded the Miami Beach Symphony. For many years until his death he gave full seasons of concerts in the Jackie Gleason Theater on Miami Beach. Upon his death "Gitty" established a scholarship fund at Julliard School of Music in his memory to provide an annual cash reward to an outstanding student of violin or conducting. For her 70th birthday Mel expanded the name of the fund and increased it's value to include "Gitty's" name and to add a piano student. A cousin founded the Pittsburgh Symphony, and another cousin played violin solo's for movies in the 1930's including Goldenboy. This same cousin conducted concerts at the Hollywood Bowl.
Her daughter Sheryl was a talented clarinetest who graduated Boston University with a degree in Performance of Clarinet and was invited to play in the Tanglewood High School Orchestra one summer and in the Fellowship program a few years later. Sheryl is currently president of S. Kartzmer, Inc. a business that followed in her father's footsteps. Her daughter Karen played flute and picccolo in high school and went on to start a successful party planning and invitation business.
"Gitty" is survived by Mel, her loving husband of 63 years, daughters Sheryl Goldberg (Alan) and Karen Mazala; grandchildren Bryan (Adrienne) Goldberg, Lauren (Jack) Nichols, Michelle (Derik) Mazala, Jonathan Mazala and David Mazala. She adored being a grandmother, trips to Israel, sailboating, car travel, and in later years cruise ships. Tributes in her honor may be made to her Julliard Scholarhip fund, The Greater Miami Jewish Federation or APAC. Special thanks to Drs. Arnold Blaustein, Robert Raskin and Peter Segall for their dedicated care. Chapel service 9:30 am Friday, January 17, 2014 at Levitt Weinstein Eternal Light Funeral Service Center, 18840 West Dixie Highway, North Miami Beach, Florida (305) 932-2700.
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