Abraham Landsman

MADISON - Abraham "Abe" Landsman, age 102, passed away peacefully on Sept. 2, 2016, in his home at Oakwood Village West in Madison.

Abe was born on Jan. 8, 1914 in New York City to Louis and Anna Landsman. He grew up in the Bronx NY (where he loved playing handball and stickball), graduated from James Monroe High School (where he ran track), and attended City College of New York, leaving college during the Great Depression to begin a career in the ladies garment industry (where he was a long-time member of the International Ladies Garment Workers Union). During World War II, Abe served in the US Army, stateside and in the European Campaign. After returning home, he met and married Gloria Ogolsky in Dec. 1946. Together, they raised two children, Howard and Marcia, both of whom achieved advanced degrees and went on to successful professional careers.

After Abe retired from the garment industry in 1979, he and Gloria moved to Florida and settled in Spring Hill, where they owned their first and only home, made many new friends, volunteered with the local Meals on Wheels program, and enjoyed the happiest years of their lives together. After Gloria's death in Jan. 1990, Abe moved to Madison, where he lived independently in his own apartment until age 100.

Upon arriving in Madison, Abe immediately got involved as a highly-valued volunteer with several local nonprofits, especially the Madison Senior Center and Jewish Social Services (JSS). He quickly mastered the Metro bus system, became a regular attendee at the JSS L'Chayim senior luncheon program, made many new and cherished friends, kept up with current affairs, developed a love for social dancing and telling jokes, and became something of a ladies man.

During his 26 years in Madison, Abe's philanthropic work was recognized by the Rotary Club of Madison (Senior Service Award) and Jewish Social Services (Lifetime Achievement Award). Beyond his volunteer work, Abe contributed an extraordinary share of his limited income to a wide array of charitable causes, among his favorites being Jewish Social Services, the Madison Senior Center, and the Oakwood Foundation. Abe's philanthropic legacy continues even after death, as he donated his body to the UW Medical School to help educate the next generation of doctors and nurses.

During his Madison years, Abe was also profiled in the Wisconsin State Journal's "Know Your Madisonian" column ("Doing the Proper Thing") at age 89, on WKOW-TV upon turning 100, and by State Journal reporter Doug Erickson in his series of feature stories on Madison area centenarians. Abe was also recognized at age 88 with an award by Madison Mayor Sue Bauman as the oldest worker on the City's payroll. Abe finally retired (at age 94) from his paying jobs as front desk attendant at the Madison Senior Center and Elections Supervisor for the City at Madison Public Library's central branch.

At the encouragement of JSS social worker Nancy Dodge, Abe moved to the Tower Apartments Oakwood Village West in December 2009 and, after recognizing his need for more help with daily living activities, he was able to make a smooth transition to Oakwood's Tabor Oaks assisted living community in August 2014.

Abe was often asked about his formula for living so well for so long, and would answer "exercise, the Mediterranean diet, and good women!" Abe continued exercising, eating healthily, and enjoying female companionship (especially his daily dinner companions at Oakwood's Village Inn) into the final days of his life.

Abe is survived by his son Howard (Judith) of Madison, granddaughters Jessie (Paul Marble) of Shorewood WI and Emma Landsman of Northampton MA, great grandsons Jake and Charlie Marble of Shorewood WI, and many friends and family members. He was preceded in death by his parents, his beloved wife of 43 years, Gloria, his daughter Marcia, his sisters Edith Altman and Matilda Berg, and dear friends Sarah Cutler, Else Petersen, and William Dodge.

Despite outliving so many of his loved ones, and gradually losing his physical abilities, Abe maintained a positive outlook on life and kept moving forward after each loss. He was the embodiment of the Yiddish concept of "mensch," a person whose life is the model of goodness, and his never-ending series of non-random acts of kindness are legendary.

A celebration of Abe's life will be held on Sunday, Oct. 9, 2016, from 1:30 - 4:30 PM, in the community room on the first floor in The Oaks at Oakwood Village West, 6225 Mineral Point Road, Madison. Thoughts and memories can also be shared at www.CressFuneralService.com .

Our family is grateful for the exceptional care and kindness Abe received from Agrace HospiceCare during his final months of life, and from the staff at Tabor Oaks at Oakwood-West during his two years as a resident. In lieu of flowers, we encourage memorial gifts be made to the Oakwood Foundation (6201 Mineral Point Road, Madison WI 53705) and/or Agrace (5395 E. Cheryl Parkway, Madison, WI 53711).

When in doubt, just ask yourself "What would Abe do?"


Cress Center
6021 University Ave
Madison, WI 53705
608-238-8406