Gertrude Stein Nelson, 95

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WARWICK, R.I. – Gertrude Stein Nelson, of the Phyllis Siperstein Tamarisk Residence, died May 9 at Hope Hospice. She was the beloved wife of Samuel Nelson for 29 years, previously married to the late Solomon Stein. Born in Providence, a daughter of the late Louis and Sadie (Garlick) Deluty, she lived in Warwick for four years, and previously in Cranston, Boynton Beach, Florida, and Woonsocket.

 

She was director of the Arthur Angelo School of Hair Design in Woonsocket/Providence for 25 years, retiring in 1985. She led the way for the school to become the first accredited cosmetology school in Rhode Island. She developed a national reputation as a platform artist with the John H. Breck Co. and was instrumental in establishing programs where students provided beauty services to patients at Zambarano Memorial Hospital. She was the first woman elected president of the Rhode Island Association of Career and Technical Schools, and was a member of the NE Branch of the Women’s League of Speakers, the Citizen’s Scholarship Foundation of Rhode Island and the Rhode Island Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators. Gert was a member of Temple Sinai and Congregation B’nai Israel, active in numerous activities, including past president of the sisterhood of the Congregation of B’nai Israel.

She was the devoted mother of Allan Stein and his wife, Deborah Guthrie, of North Kingstown; and the late Marvin Stein and his wife, Naomi Mittell of North Kingstown; and stepmother of Judy Mintzer and her husband, Michael, of Barrington; and Cindy Turbitt and her husband, Jack, of Florida. She was the sister of Helene Klein of Cranston; and the late Jerome Deluty and Lenore Edenbaum. She was the grandmother of Jason Mittell and his wife, Ruth Hardy; Morgan Johnson and her husband, Richard; Mikaela Roberts and her husband, Steven; Jacob Mintzer and his wife, Laura; and Charlotte Mintzer. She was the great-grandmother of Margreta, Anya and Walter Mittell, Tyler and Emma Roberts and Sophia Johnson.

Contributions in her memory may be made to Make-A-Wish Foundation, 20 Hemingway Drive, East Providence, RI 02915.