Norma Perlstein

1919 - 2024

Norma (Golden) Perlstein, 104, of Berkeley, CA, retired Executive Director of Temple Sholom in Greenwich, Connecticut, passed away surrounded by her family on April 19, 2024, just six days short of her 105th birthday.

Norma was born April 25, 1919 in New Milford, the daughter of Harry and Ida Golden. Her father had a dry goods store, where she helped out from the time she was in elementary school. When he died in 1934, she took over its management while continuing to attend high school. When Norma graduated in 1936, she was honored as New Milford High School's outstanding student. Norma got to know a number of New Milford's famous residents. She worked as private secretary to renowned conductor Leopold Stokowski and studied women's history with historian Mary Beard.

Norma began seventy-five years of volunteering for the Red Cross in 1942. In 1943 she moved to Hartford where she became a Red Cross nurse's aide at Hartford Hospital. In 1944, when the catastrophic Ringling Brother's Hartford Fire left some nine hundred spectators dead or wounded, Norma assisted in Hartford Hospital's pediatric wards. This harrowing experience left her with a lifelong sense of commitment to the Red Cross.

A colleague at Hartford Hospital introduced her to her future husband, Norman Perlstein. Norman and Norma shared a passionate interest in the arts, and a deep commitment to civil rights and equality for all people. Norma was active in many civic efforts. She volunteered at the World Affairs Council and participated in the 1963 March on Washington. She gave generously of herself during a lifetime of volunteer activities, and her unstinting work on the behalf of others was recognized by her community, by the State of Connecticut, by Presidents Roosevelt and Truman, by the International Red Cross and several other organizations. She was a PTA president, served five years on the Board of the Stamford, CT YMCA, and was president of the American Field Service Stamford chapter. She was a cancer volunteer and a spiritual counselor at Greenwich Hospital. For many years she was a literacy volunteer. Norma served as Treasurer of Greenwich Hadassah and was on the Board of Directors of Jewish Family Services in Greenwich for eleven years.

She was a leader at UJA/Federation of Greenwich. Norma served six years on the Red Cross Greenwich chapter board of directors. Over the years, she was often honored for her service to the families of Temple Sholom and to those in need in Greenwich and throughout the world.

Norma was predeceased by her husband, Norman, and her siblings Anne, Alfred, and Sybil. She is survived by her children Jane, David, Daniel and Joshua, her grandchildren Anna, Alex, Arlo, Reuben, Li Ming, Maisie and Elijah, and her great-grandchildren Ezra, Isaac, and Xavier.

Norma was widely admired for her confident leadership, incisive intelligence, love for others and joyous appreciation of life. We will cherish her memory.

Funeral arrangements are private. Memorial contributions may be made to Mazon, the American Red Cross, or Temple Sholom's Norma Perlstein Social Action Fund.