Adams 1950 Phyllis (Schrager) Gilman

Condolences

Phyllis Schrager Gilman age 84, of Bloomington, Indiana, passed away on January 6, 2017 at IU Health Hospice House in Bloomington. Phyllis was born in Monessen, Pennsylvania on April 1, 1932, the daughter of Max Schrager and Selma Welber Schrager.

Phyllis and her family later moved to South Bend, Indiana where she attended John Adams High School and met her future husband and life-long partner, Alan B. Gilman. Phyllis and Alan attended the Bloomington campus of Indiana University. She discontinued her studies after her sophomore year to start a family and many years later returned to complete her studies as an English major, earning her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1994 from Indiana University.

Her husband Alan had a long career in retailing that took them to Ohio, Texas, New York, California and back home to Indiana for their later years. Each time they moved, Phyllis made the place our home, established roots in the community, and formed enduring friendships.

One of the great pleasures Phyllis and Alan shared was exploring new places and travelling the world together. As an art lover Phyllis enjoyed visiting the world's leading museums. Phyllis shared her interest in art as a member of the Advisory Board of the IU Art Museum (now IU Eskenazi Museum of Art). Phyllis was also an avid reader and as a member of the University Women's Club she was the creator and leader of a monthly book discussion group for many years. Phyllis together with her husband Alan gave endowment gifts to the College of Arts and Sciences, the Kelly School of Business, and the IU School of Medicine, as well as the IU Libraries. Other major gifts to IU made by Phyllis and Alan include support for the SPEA School, the IU Art Museum, the Athletics department, the Alumni Association, and the Well House Society.

Phyllis brightened our lives with her kindness, warmth, grace, and charisma. She had a keen intelligence and innate wisdom. She was a devoted wife and mother, and an adoring grandmother. We are so grateful to have had her as our matriarch and we were blessed by her love and generosity of heart.

Phyllis is survived by Alan, her husband and devoted partner of 65 years, her younger brother Irwin Schrager, (wife Sandy), sons Bruce Gilman, Jeffrey Gilman (wife Emily), and daughter Lynn Gilman, and her granddaughters, Alana, Sarah, and Katie Gilman. Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents and her older brothers, Howard and Jack Schrager.

There will be a private family memorial service held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Phyllis Gilman Library Endowment through the IU Foundation https://iufoundation.iu.edu/

Memories of Phyllis and condolences to the family can be shared via www.thefuneralchapel.net

Published in the The Indianapolis Star on Jan. 10, 2017