Gertie M. Cooper passed away on Sept. 3 at the age of 93. The daughter of Justin and Beate (Wortsmann) Maier, she was born on Feb. 23, 1931 in Augsburg, Germany. She immigrated to the United States to escape Nazi persecution, arriving in New York on the SS Volendam on Feb. 22, 1940, one day shy of her 9th birthday. She attended New York City public schools and went on to become a member of the first class of women admitted to the selective Bronx High School of Science, graduating in January 1949. She also completed college-level work at Pace University. She was a longtime resident of Ardsley, New York before relocating to the Osborn in Rye.
While she had a career that included employment at the New York Telephone Company and the Fuller Brush Company, she is best remembered as a loving daughter, wife, mother and friend. She was a den mother for Cub Scouts and Brownies, a regular fixture at school events and little league games, and an enthusiastic hostess of family birthday and holiday celebrations. An avid Mahjong player, her kitchen was routinely filled with calls of “seven bam” or “three dot.” She could make a roll of quarters last all day at a slot machine.
She is survived by children Amy (Anthony Dunleavy) of Hartsdale, New York and Jeffrey (Alexandra Stevens) of Greenwich, Connecticut, as well as grandchildren Justin, Benjamin, Ethan, and Colleen. She was predeceased in 2022 by her loving husband of 68 years, Edwin.
Services will be private.
The family would like to thank the management and staff of the Osborn Pavilion, Osborn Home Care, and Hospice of Westchester for their devoted care.