Obituary of Geraldine Oldman

Geraldine Alfandre Oldman, 78 Geraldine Alfandre Oldman (Nelson), age 78 of Martinsville, NJ, passed away on January 27th at her home after a hard-fought illness. She was born to the late Walter and Jeanette Nelson on February 3, 1937. Geri grew up in Metuchen, NJ, and graduated from Metuchen High School in 1955 at the top of her class, she then attended Douglas College from which she graduated in 1959, with a BFA degree in mathematics. Upon graduation she went to work for Bell Labs working as a computer programmer. Geraldine met and married her husband Howard Alfandre (deceased in 1981) in 1959 and together they raised their four daughters in Plainfield and Westfield, NJ. Geri was an active member in the Plainfield, NJ Jewish Community, serving on the Board and as a member of Temple Beth El in Plainfield for 25 years. In addition, she also served on a fundraising committee for the National Cancer Society for many years. As well as her philanthropic, work Geri taught high school mathematics at Arthur L. Johnson High School in Clark and Rutgers Preparatory in New Brunswick for many years. She was most generous with her donations to multiple charities including The American Cancer Society, The Leukemia Foundation, Susan G Komen, Nature's Conservancy, The Audubon Society and many Arts Associations. Family, friends, painting and bird watching were Geri's passion and delight. Some of her most cherished memories were the times she spent at the NJ shore with her family and sister, Eleanor's family. She loved to paint and took many courses over the years for which yielded many beautiful paintings of her favorite things – flowers, birds, and landscapes that captured the change of seasons. For several years, Geri attended Cornel University with her husband, Elliot, where she would take courses of her likings focused on literature, nature, and the arts. She was a quiet yet very strong woman that enjoyed the simple things in life and was always there for anyone in need. Geri was a true hero and always put her family first. She survived the deaths of her late husband Howard and beloved daughter Tamara after their long and difficult battles with cancer. She loved and cared for her parents, Walter and Jeanette, until their deaths. She spent countless days with others during their times of need and never once asked for or expected anything in return. She never once complained during her own long and painful illness and fought a most gallant fight until the very end. She always managed to smile – at even the most difficult moments and carried the strength of a million men in her heart of gold. Geri was a smart, soft-spoken and kind woman with a fiercely competitive streak. She loved tennis and winning at any card game. She was always very active enjoying walks throughout her neighborhood, attending plays and operas, listening to classical music, attending her children and grandchildren's events, and sitting with family laughing and sharing stories of past and present experiences. Geri is survived by her husband, Dr. Elliot Oldman, her sister, Eleanor Massey, her sister-in-law Susan Swain, her daughters, Jocelyn Alfandre, Elyse Alfandre, Rachel Belden, and the late Tamara Alfandre-Nichols, and son-in-laws Robert Nichols and Roy Belden and her grandchildren Hannah and David Belden, Joseph Norton, and Jordan Nichols. She also leaves behind numerous loving relatives and friends. Geri's funeral will be held at Congregation Neve Shalom, 250 Grove Ave., Metuchen, NJ on Friday, January 29th at 9:30AM. A burial will follow at Beth Israel Cemetery in Woodbridge, NJ and there will be light refreshments following the burial at Neve Shalom. Shiva will be held at the home of her daughter on Friday, January 9th from 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM. Details and direction can be found at http://higginsfuneralhome.com/134/Watchung.html. In lieu of flowers, Geri requested that donations be made to The American Cancer Society – Relay for Life.