Gladys Gershenfeld, pioneering Philadelphia labor arbitrator, 91

Gladys Gershenfeld, the first female labor arbitrator in the Philadelphia area, a member of the National Academy of Arbitrators, and faculty member of Philadelphia University, passed away peacefully on Thursday, August 25, 2016, at the age of 91. She was elected to the National Academy of Arbitrators in 1980 and served as an NAA vice president. Gladys is a co-founder of the Philadelphia chapter of the Industrial Relations Research Association (now the Labor and Employment Relations Associated), along with her husband, the late Walter Gershenfeld, also a leading arbitrator. She served as president of the Philadelphia Chapter and as a board member of LERA. She served on the faculty of the Philadelphia College of Textiles and Sciences (now Philadelphia University).

Gladys is survived by her three sons and their spouses, Joel and Susan, Neil and Laura, and Alan and Madhavi, as well as six grandchildren Gabriel, Aaron, Grace, Eli, Ethan, and Kiran.

Funeral services for Gladys will be held on Mon, Aug 29 at the Kirk and Nice Chapel at the George Washington Memorial Park, 80 Stenton Road, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462. The family will greet guests beginning at 9:30 and the memorial service will begin at 10:00, followed by a graveside service.