Adelaide Hubbard Bergman

BERGMAN, Adelaide Hubbard, 91, formerly of New Orleans, Louisiana, passed away on October 26, 2008. Born and raised in Brookline, Mass., she trained to be a concert cellist at the New England Conservatory of Music, where she received her degree in 1940. While in Conservatory, she spent summers at the Berkshire Music Center in Tanglewood, Mass., sharing the stage with her childhood friend, Leonard Bernstein. Married in 1942 to Rabbi Leo A. Bergman, the two moved to Rockford, Ill. before her husband, who preceded her in death, accepted the Head Rabbi position at Touro Synagogue in New Orleans, in 1947. There she continued playing cello for over three decades with the New Orleans Symphony Orchestra. She also played for the New Orleans Opera and Ballet, and gave lessons to countless, aspiring young cellists. After her retirement from the symphony, she enjoyed traveling extensively around the world. She moved to Richmond in 1999 and was comforted and cared for by the loving staff at St. Mary's Woods and most recently by her two special angels, Rosa Allen and Dora Thomas. Adelaide is survived by her two sons, Lee Bergman and wife, Judith of New Iberia, Louisiana, and William Bergman and wife, Susan of Manakin-Sabot, Va. She has four grandchildren, Jason Kaufman of Mandeville, La. and LeeAnn Bergman of Lafayette, La., Mark Bergman of Alexandria, Va., and Elissa Bergman of Charlottesville, Va. A memorial service is planned for this Thursday at Touro Synagogue in New Orleans. Memorial contributions may be made to the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, 1010 Commons St., Suite 2120, New Orleans, La. 70112.
This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.