Eleanor Bertha Rosenfeld Gerson was born in New York City on July 6, 1915, to Edward and Bertha Rosenfeld. After Eleanor finished her studies at Hathaway Brown School in Shaker Heights, Ohio, in 1933, she traveled east and earned a Bachelor of Arts in History from Smith College in Northhampton, Massachusetts, in 1937. Shortly after graduating from Smith College, Eleanor married Benjamin S. Gerson in 1938. The marriage resulted in the birth of four children. Benjamin S. passed away in July 1973. In addition, Eleanor received a Master of Arts in American Studies in 1962 and a Master of Science in Social Administration, both degrees from Western Reserve University. Later in Eleanor's life, the Gerson family became active philanthropists in Northeast Ohio. Through the various Gerson foundations Eleanor and her family supported a wide range of activities in Ohio, as well as elsewhere in the United States. In particular, Eleanor was interested in the quality of life and education of children, assisting financially and through her own work. Eleanor passed away on October 20, 2000, at the age of 85.
From the description of Papers, 1977-2001. (Case Western Rsv University). WorldCat record id: 52422060
