Gilbert Feldman Obituary

Feldman, Gilbert

Gilbert Feldman, May 7, 1931 – August 27, 2021, died peacefully at age 90 in his home, where he deeply wished to live out his final years. He spent his last day enjoying gefilte fish for lunch, watching The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show, and listening to treasured piano recordings by his son Steve. Gilbert was born to Henry and Dorothy (née Bolotin) Feldman in Chicago, "the greatest city in the world." He graduated with distinction from Northwestern University ('52). There, he met the love of his life, Ruth Duskin, after having listened to her weekly radio performances as a Quiz Kid throughout his youth. He married her on June 14, 1953, the first day of the happiest 62 years of his life. Gilbert was on the Law Review at Northwestern Law School ('55), and, with fellow workers' rights champion Gilbert Cornfield, he founded the labor law firm Cornfield and Feldman, representing steelworkers, teachers, AFSCME, and other employees in the private and public sectors. He won significant victories including changes in airline procedures regarding equal pay for equal work, sex discrimination, marriage, pregnancy and weight restrictions. In 1965-66, Gilbert worked with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as counsel for the Chicago Freedom Movement, focusing on tenants' rights. In 1977, Gilbert's article published in the Chicago-Kent Law Review helped lead to the adoption of the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act. Gilbert was a supertaster of life, with many passions. Among them were his extensive classical music LP collection, the Ravinia Festival, the Chicago Cubs, the Chicago Bears, Bing Crosby, abundant greenery, food, political debates and, most of all, family. He lost Ruth, the center of his world, in 2015, and his beloved brother, Dr. Sidney Feldman, in 2019. Gilbert's sense of purpose, independence of mind, irrepressible humor, 1940s movie club (with his grandchildren), and strong Jewish values left an indelible mark on all who knew him, most of all his children, Steven Jeffrey, Laurie Nadine (Stephen Gilles) and Heidi Carolyn (Kevin Delgado) Feldman; grandchildren Daniel (Tang Li), Emmett (Alexandra Rivka), Marguerite (fiance Aiden Shapiro), Vera, Eve, and Isaac Gilles and Delilah and Raphael Delgado; great-grandchildren Nechama Ruth and Dovid Shimon Gilles; sisters-in-law Rhoda Feldman (late Sidney) and Bunny Shuch (late Sandor); and niece and nephews Judith Feldman Belofsky (David), Howard Feldman and Robert Shuch (Bethel). He was predeceased by nephew Dr. Gregory Feldman and niece Batya Bar Chaim (Yossel). The family wishes to thank those who so attentively cared for Gilbert in recent years, including Dr. Mark Greenberger, the dedicated staff and aides at Home Instead, and Gilbert's devoted and extraordinary caretaker Jennifer Fenneman. A graveside service will be held on Friday, September 3 at 1:00 p.m. CT at Shalom Memorial Park, 1700 Rand Road, Arlington Heights, with an outdoor memorial service at the family home (masks required) following the burial at 3:00 p.m. CT. Both services will be livestreamed at www.goldmanfuneralgroup.com. Under Recent Services, click onto Gilbert's photo and scroll down to Service Details for the links to the livestreams. In lieu of flowers, donations in honor of Gilbert Feldman may be sent to The Society for Humanistic Judasim, https://shj.org/donate/, or WFMT radio station, https://wfmt.giftplans.org/index.php?cID=236. May all who knew and appreciated Gilbert raise a brimming cup, eat a hearty meal and listen to a great symphony in his memory. For Additional Service Info: The Goldman Funeral Group (847) 478-1600.

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