soul of blessed memory Inventor And Businessman C harles Gelman, 86, of Ann Arbor, died April 13, 2018. He was born Dec. 14, 1931, in a poor neigh- borhood in Manhattan, the only son of Fay and Robert Eisenberg and grandson of Edel and Rose Eisenberg, first-generation immigrants from Ukraine. Diagnosed with rheu- matic fever at age 12, Charles spent months in Vanderbilt Hospital, where his scientific Charles Gelman curiosity blossomed after the hospital lab invited him to help measure blood clotting rates. He enrolled in Roosevelt Public High School, where he devoured literature and philosophy. He ranked third for the New York Regents exam in Westchester County and accepted a full scholarship to Syracuse University. After college, he moved to Baltimore and worked at the Army Chemical Center in Edgewood, Md. He conducted air sam- pling studies and devised an innovative test to show the presence of nerve gas using cholinesterase, an enzyme found in cockroaches. Next, Charles moved to Louisville, Ky., to conduct hourly air samplings for the U.S. Public Health Service. This project inspired his invention of an automated sequential air sampler and resulted in the discovery of unreported nightly emissions from a creosote manufacturing plant. Charles married Rita Specter in 1956. They moved to Chelsea, Mich., so he could complete a master’s in industrial hygiene at the University of Michigan School of Public Health. While completing his stud- ies, Charles was asked by his former boss to manufacture 12 air sampling machines based on his earlier prototype. Charles was a rare combination of inventor and businessman as he found new markets for his products. Gelman filters were used in the pharmaceutical, elec- tronic, chemical and beverage industries worldwide. Gelman Sciences eventually became one of the largest publicly traded companies in Michigan. By the 1990s, the company was developing and manufactur- ing more membranes in more types of devices than any other company in the world. Always giving credit to Rita for raising their four children, Charles poured every ounce of energy into his work. He was named Outstanding Man of the Year by the Ann Arbor Junior Chamber of Commerce in 1967. His com- pany received many awards, including the Trailblazer Award from the Detroit Science Center and the national “E” Star (Export) Award. In 1986, Gelman Sciences was named one of 101 Best Performing Companies in America, ranking 58th nationally for longevity, 83rd in productiv- ity and 87th in sales. In 1996, at the time of its sale to Pall Corporation, Gelman Sciences employed more than 900 people around the world, with subsidiaries in Australia, Britain, Canada, Germany, Ireland, France, Italy and Japan, and manufacturing facili- ties in Pensacola, Fla., Ann Arbor and Pleasanton, Calif. Charles sought oppor- tunities to mentor individuals, also hiring clients from Peace Neighborhood Center. After selling Gelman Sciences, Charles and Rita devoted expertise and generous financial support to numerous philan- thropic causes. Together, they supported the Jewish Community Center of Greater Ann Arbor, Beth Israel Congregation, Ann Arbor Jewish Federation, Ann Arbor Community Center, Peace Neighborhood Center, Michigan Theater Foundation and many more. Charles worked tirelessly to help build the new Ann Arbor YMCA building and served on that board of directors for 16 years. In 2008, Charles and Rita endowed the University of Michigan Risk Science Center in the School of Public Health. In 2017, after almost 20 years on the U-M School of Public Health Advisory Board, the Gelmans funded the U-M Gelman Global Scholars program, supporting student internships and research with an emphasis on Israel. While visiting Theresienstadt concen- tration camp, Charles and Rita learned about Nicholas Winton, a young British stockbroker, who saved 669 Czech Jewish children from the Nazi regime. Impressed with Winton’s story, the Gelman Educational Foundation funded produc- tion of a documentary film, The Power of Good, which aired to more than 1 million people worldwide and won an interna- tional Emmy Award in 2002. At Charles’ 85th birthday party, guests spoke to the couple’s continual generos- ity, kindness and mentoring that brought people to their current accomplishments. Gelman’s life was the achievement of the American dream. He used persistence and compassion to push beyond limit- ing circumstances to better himself and the world around him. He will always be remembered as a champion of the under- dog who shared generously from his own success to help those in need. A service was held at Beth Israel Congregation, 2000 Washtenaw Ave., Ann Arbor. Rabbi Robert Dobrusin officiated. Interment was at Beth Israel Memorial Garden at Arborcrest Cemetery. Contributions may be made to YMCA of Ann Arbor, JCC of Ann Arbor, U-M School of Public Health, Michigan Theater Foundation or Michigan Medicine-U-M Hospital. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel. • JUDITH ANN BROWN, 81, of Southfield, died April 16, 2018. She is survived by her daughters and sons-in- law, Laurie and Brown Michael Gonte, and Pamela and Andrew Schwartz; grandchildren, Robyn and Jeff Rice, Mallory Gonte and Jared Biller, Daniel Schwartz and Jenna Schwartz. Interment was at Machpelah Cemetery. Contributions may be made to Jewish Hospice & Chaplaincy Network, 6555 W. Maple, West Bloomfield, MI 48322, www.jewishhospice.org. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel. MARK STEPHEN DEVENOW, 69, of East Lansing, died April 18, 2018. He is survived by his children, Andrea and Mark Laderman, Bess Devenow and Michael Bendik, and Rachel Devenow; grandchil- dren, Nicholas, Alexandra and Ethan Laderman; brother, Jeffrey Devenow; sister, Susan Devenow. Mr. Devenow was the devoted son of the late Chester and the late Marilyn Devenow. Interment was at Clover Hill Park Cemetery. Contributions may be made to Chabad House of East Lansing/MSU, 540 Elizabeth St., East Lansing, MI 48823, rabbi@ msu.edu. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel. Correction The Evelyn Shepherd obit (April 12, 2018) should have listed her date of death as April 4, 2018. COUPON RAW ALMONDS Certifi ed Kosher Under the Supervision of Kosher Michigan - Rabbi Jason Miller 32906 Middlebelt Rd (at 14 Mile) Please see our menu at www.johnnypomodoros.com (248) 855- 0007 Johnny Pomodoro’s is your ONE STOP SHOP for all of your needs! 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