Morton Gusweiler

Morton Gusweiler was committed to serving her community and excelled in a real estate career that didn't start until later in life.

Mrs Gusweiler, 100, died Aug. 6 in Hyde Park. She was about three weeks short of her 101st birthday.

She was a graduate of Walnut Hills High School and the University of Cincinnati. Her late husband was Judge Frank Gusweiler, an appeals court judge. They lived in Clifton and later North Avondale.

Mrs. Gusweiler served a term on Cincinnati City Council and attended the 1960 Republican National Convention, where the party nominated Vice President Richard Nixon for president.

Daughter Morton Freytag of Madeira said her mother was involved in so many civic groups because "she just always thought it was a responsibility that you should contribute to the community."

Mrs. Gusweiler was active in the Cincinnati Bar Association Auxiliary, the League of Women Voters and the Cincinnati Zoo's board. She served as president of the Cincinnati Woman's Club, past district alumni president for Kappa Alpha Theta, director of the Girl Scout Symphony and chairwoman of the World Affairs Institute.

Grandson Gary Freytag of Madeira said his grandmother was so involved in community and political organizations because her husband ran for office and she managed that process for him.

Mrs. Gusweiler began a real estate career at age 70 after her husband died in 1981. A real estate agent, she sold houses and condominiums and frequently qualilfied for the Million Dollar Club. Gary Freytag believed she worked into her 90s. He said his grandmother didn't have enough retirement income to live the way she wanted so she decided to get a full-time job.

"She was a tremendous people person. She was gregarious, optimistic and just loved people. She was a perfect fit for sales," Gary Freytag said. "It (didn't have to be) real estate. That just happen to be what she chose."

Daughter Ann Hall of Ryland Heights said "my mother might well have been a corporate CEO if she was born 50 years later."

Gary Freytag said his grandmother lived so long because of "great genetics" and she stayed active. Her sister Nancy Bauer, who was the founder of the Cincinnati Ballet Company, lived to be 100. Ms. Gusweiler's mother lived into her 90s.

Ms. Gusweiler traveled until about the age of 95. She and husband visited parts of the United States and the world. She visited China years after her husband died.

Besides her daughter and grandson, survivors include five other grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Services are 11 a.m. Saturday at Gwen Mooney Funeral Home, 4389 Spring Grove Ave., Winton Place. Visitation is 10 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home.

Memorials: Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, 3400 Vine St., Cincinnati, OH 45220, or Hospice of Cincinnati, 4360 Cooper Road, Cincinnati, OH 45242.

By Paul McKibben; pmckibben@enquirer.com