Thelma G. Lehmann

Thelma G. LEHMANN Thelma Gerstman Lehmann, a nationally known abstract impressionist artist, collector of African art and formerly art critic for The Seattle Times, was born on August 3, 1916 in Savannah, Georgia to Maria and Henry Gerstman. The family moved to Seattle, where Thelma grew up and graduated from Broadway High School. She attended the Chouinard Art Institute in Los Angeles, the Art Students League in New York City, as well as Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle, where she became friends with Nellie Cornish. Many of the Northwest's internationally famous artists were her colleagues and friends, including Mark Tobey, Morris Graves, Kenneth Callahan, Guy Anderson, and Dr. Richard Fuller (Director of the Seattle Art Museum). Thelma had art exhibits at one time or another at all of the well-known regional studios, including the Henry Gallery, Foster White, the Seattle Art Museum, Cornish College of the Arts, Gage Academy, Pacific Lutheran University, Gallery Nimba, KIBO African Art Gallery and the Woodside/ Braseth Gallery. She has many works on permanent loan to the Seattle Art Museum. Thelma also had art exhibits in Afghanistan and Japan. A philanthropist as well as an artist, Thelma served on many arts and cultural boards, including the Advisory Board for the University of Washington School of Music, where she donated a permanent chair for a visiting professorship. Many people also knew Thelma because of the men in her life. She married Dr. Hans Lehmann, the founder of Ballard Hospital and a friend of the arts and artists, on February 15, 1942. They were married for 54 years until his death in 1996. Isaac Stern, Alexander "Sasha" Schneider, and Yehudi Menuhin among others, were close friends. When Hans and Thelma celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary, Isaac Stern called in by phone and played "Anniversary Waltz" for them on his violin, to the Lehmanns' delight. She was also the mother to Spencer and Mark Lehmann. Thelma had grown up with one sibling, a brother, Ozwald Gerstman, who died when he was 44. Those who knew Thelma know that she lived her life to the fullest, no holds barred, with a "joie de vivre" unlike any other (with the possible exception of her beloved Hans, with whom she lived a wonderful, exciting and sometimes exasperating 54 years). Thelma Lehmann is survived by her sons, Spencer and Mark, her daughter-in-law, Fran, her granddaughter, Kyle Lehmann, and her grandson, David Lehmann. A Memorial Service/Celebration of Thelma Lehmann's Life will be held at The Cornish School of Arts, Poncho Theater, 710 East Roy Street, on Tuesday, November 20th, at 2:00 p.m. Please call Jane Ewing at Cornish, (206) 726-5171, for directions or questions. A reception will follow the service. In place of flowers, the family requests that remembrances be considered for Cornish College of the Arts, 1000 Lenora St., Seattle, WA 98121.