Martha Schindhelm

May 28, 1946 - March 10, 2025. The world's light dimmed when Martha Pafford Schindhelm passed away after a brief and brave battle with cancer. Born in Decatur, GA, Martha spent her formative years in Atlanta watched closely by her older sister Connie (Broom). She was a member of Atlanta-based Pace Academy's first graduating class in 1964, and went on to receive a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art Education from Wesleyan College in Macon, GA (Class of 1968). Much to her parents' shagrin, she lived the majority of her adult life north of the Mason-Dixon line in New York and Connecticut before returning later in life to her beloved Georgia.

She cut her editorial teeth at McGraw Hill Publishing in New York City, working with the renowned industrial designer Henry Dreyfuss on his seminal work, Symbol Sourcebook: An Authoritative Guide to International Symbols. While sharing an apartment in Manhattan, fate introduced her to her soulmate when a side-burned Robert (Bob) Schindhelm of White Plains, NY came to return a book to her roommate. The couple married in 1972 at St. Matthews Church in White Plains. Two years later, after trading city life for the quieter pace of western Connecticut, they welcomed their first daughter, Joanna in 1974. Their second daughter, Jessica, completed the family in early 1976.

Living in New Milford, CT, Martha turned her full attention to her family and community for the next 12 years, raising two strong-willed girls and serving as an early chair of the Board of Trustees at her daughters' school, Washington Montessori School in New Preston, CT. Martha was invited back into the editorial pool in the late 1980s, and began working part time for the advertising firm JMKB in North Salem, NY, whose primary client was IBM. She quickly moved up the ranks and became a full-time partner at the firm which then became Brandlogic (now Tenet Partners). After many years, she transitioned to freelance copywriter and editor and worked from home until her retirement. During this time, she also volunteered as a board member at the Burnham Library and Pratt Nature Center. Later in life she would become more involved as an alumni steering committee representative for her beloved Pace Academy and alumnae agent for Wesleyan College.

Over the years, the family welcomed four grandchildren: first, twins to Joanna, Benjamin and Riley in 2002, and Jessica's daughter Annie (b. 2006) and son Oscar (b. 2009).

Taking pride in the fact that their family tree was well rooted, Bob and Martha retired in 2017 to Savannah, GA. She and Bob continued their life "down south" enjoying the network of family and friends they had built, traveling, and spending the harshest days of Savannah's winters in Paradise - Paradise Island, Bahamas - where they enjoyed their vacation crew and invited guests every year. She will be especially missed for her warmth and generosity, her keen eye for grammar, excellent cooking, amateur Motown back-up vocals, and glamorous sense of style.

Martha is survived by her husband of 53 years, Robert (Bob); her daughters Joanna Jones (David) and Jessica Schindhelm (Jay Ferrara); her grandchildren, Benjamin and Riley (Coe), and Annie and Oscar (Ferrara); her sister Connie Broom, and many extended family members. She was a passionate animal lover to which her dog Thomas can attest. A celebration of her life will be held in April in Savannah, GA. If you wish to honor her legacy, please consider a donation in her memory to the ASPCA, an organization whose mission she and Bob had long supported.