Carl Gelman

GELMANCarl, 94, died peacefully on February 24, 2009. He was born in Paterson where he resided his entire life. Carl was a 1936 graduate of Rutgers Law School in Newark (formerly New Jersey Law School). Before retiring as an attorney in 1987, Carl founded the law firm of Gelman & Gelman in Paterson with his younger brother Jerome, and practiced law for over 50 years. Carl had a long and distinguished career as a Workers Compensation attorney as he worked tirelessly for the rights of workers injured on the job. Carl easily conversed with both factory workers and with mayors, governors and United States Senators as he toiled for the common man and woman. In the 1970's, Carl successfully litigated the then largest case in the United States against Johns-Mansville and other asbestos mining and manufacturing companies on behalf of 683 former Raybestos Manhatten employees who suffered from asbestos exposure illnesses, resulting in a $15.5 million settlement.He served as chairman of the NJ State Bar Association's Workers Compensation section for several terms and was known as a dean of that Bar. He also served as counsel to the Paterson Housing Authority at a time of the greatest expansion of new housing throughout the city. Carl is survived by his loving wife of 68 years, Gussie (nee Weiss), formerly of Passaic, his daughter Marilyn and her husband David Schnitzer of Wayne, NJ, his son Jon Gelman, Esq. of Wayne, NJ, his granddaughter Lori Schnitzer Liu, Esq. and her husband Dr. Raymond Liu of Brisbane, CA, his grandson, Todd Schnitzer, Esq. and his wife Amy Lamb Schnitzer and his great-granddaughter Lila Schnitzer of St. Louis, MO, by his grandsons Dr. Michael Gelman and his wife Dr. Joy Sasson Gelman of San Francisco, CA and by Jason Gelman, Esq. of New York City. Carl was predeceased by his sister Ida (nee Gelman) Cohen of Paterson, NJ and his brother Jerome Gelman, Esq. of Teaneck, NJ. A Memorial Service was held for Carl on February 27th at The Sanctuary of Abraham and Sarah in Paramus, NJ.