Gladys Ullman

October 5, 1931 - October 11, 2026

Gladys Marian Ullmann passed away peacefully on October 11, 2026 in Westchester County, NY, after a long and remarkable life. Exactly one week before her death, she joyfully celebrated her 95 th birthday with her entire immediate family. Gladys was a force of nature who well into her 90’s seemed to run more than she walked, traveled on her own throughout the United States to visit family, and danced up a storm at family weddings, even attending the 1:30 AM afterparty at one grandson’s wedding.

Gladys had a unique talent of making people feel special. She made a point to always ask the names of servers in restaurants, store clerks and drivers and converse with them as if they were good friends. Whenever any one complimented Gladys (which happened frequently), her catchphrase response was “It takes one to know one.”

Gladys was born in the Bronx, then lived for 91 years in Westchester. She and her sister Janet grew up in Mt. Vernon, NY, where their parents Lucien and Stephanie Gottlieb owned a beauty parlor. Gladys graduated from A.B. Davis High School, Barnard College, where she co-founded the Barnard pre-law society, and Columbia Teachers College. She then became a beloved high school French teacher for 30 years, most of that time at Ardsley High School, all this while raising her two sons.

In her 50’s, Gladys pursued her college dream of being a lawyer. She graduated from Pace University Law School and had an active law practice for almost 40 years. Into her 90’s, she handled real estate closings, drafted wills and trust documents, and regularly attended Westchester bar association events.

Despite all her professional accomplishments, Gladys’s greatest satisfaction was as a grandma. At least twice a month, she drove to Princeton, NJ or Brookline, MA, where she attended her grandkids’ sporting events, plays, and concerts, took them shopping for clothing and ice cream, and unfailingly encouraged them in their academic and other pursuits.

Gladys was married for almost 50 years to Anthony R. (Tony) Ullmann, the love of her life, until he passed away in 2003. Tony was an accountant who shared her love of travel, golf, fine dining and above all time with their two boys, other family, and close friends. Everything was an adventure to Gladys and Tony, even a rental car breakdown in rural Italy after Tony had accidentally filled their rental car with diesel fuel instead of gas.

Gladys is survived by her sons Robert and Michael, their wives Patricia and Lisa, her six grandchildren Stephanie (and wife Sophie), Matt (and wife Sheri and their children Teddy, Jack and Madeline), Katie (and husband Matt and their children Maya and Margot), Emily, David, and Lauren, her sister Janet (and husband Jules), and other family. Funeral services and other observations were privately held in Westchester, NY. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Woman’s Club of White Plains Foundation or any charity of your choice.

Published on Legacy.com October 22, 2026