Obituary: Anne Paley Wolman - Class of 1938

MADISON - Anne Paley Wolman, age 82, passed away on Saturday, June 5, 2004, at UW Hospital, of kidney failure. She died as she lived, with strength and grace, surrounded by family members. She was born in Madison on June 11, 1921, the youngest of six children of Rose and Nathan Paley, and in her adult life was the hub of a large and geographically extended family. A warm and generous woman, she was loved by many. Anne earned a bachelor's degree in Labor Economics from the University of Wisconsin. On Sept. 12, 1943, she married J. Martin Wolman, who later became publisher of the Wisconsin State Journal. She was a founder of Youth Services Inc., the Wisconsin State Journal community charity responsible for the Empty Stocking Club. The extraordinary list of community organizations to which she donated time, talent and leadership includes the YWCA, Friends of the Madison Public Library, the Civic Center Foundation, the Madison Civics Club, the Dane County Arts Council, the Madison Art Center, Temple Beth El, Hadassah, the Madison Jewish Community Council, the Wisconsin Clinical Cancer Center Council, the Meriter Foundation, Attic Angels, and the Wisconsin Humanities Commission. A lover of life, Anne had an abiding fondness and appreciation for the incredible variety of creative opportunities that made Madison, her beloved hometown, so special. (For almost 60 years, she and her husband had season tickets to UW football games, and she regularly attended theater, concerts, galleries and other cultural events of many stripes; one granddaughter recalls attending a Weird Al Yankovic concert with Anne and Martin when they were in their 70s). At home, she was a voracious and discerning reader. With her husband, Anne traveled widely and enthusiastically, including several large and adventurous family gatherings which she organized. The latest was in March of this year, honoring the Wolman's 60th wedding anniversary. Anne was preceded in death by her daughter, Jane Wolman; her brother, Louis Paley; and her sisters, Belle Samosky, Bess Stein, and Kate Grossman. Survivors include her husband, J. Martin Wolman of Madison; sister, Ida Haaker of San Rafael, Calif.; four married children, Jon (Debbie Lamm) Wolman of Denver, Nicky (David Fulker) Wolman of Boulder, Colo., Lewis (Eletise Wolman) Wolman of American Samoa, and Ruth (Bruce Henderson) Henderson of Boulder; 10 grandchildren, Jacob, Emma, Sophie, Tavie, Homer and Iopa Wolman, Daniel, Timothy and Chad Henderson, and Jessica Leauanae; and three great-grandchildren. Several generations of nieces and nephews also will miss her loving and supportive role in their lives. Services will be held at 2 p.m., Monday, June 7, 2004, at TEMPLE BETH EL, 2702 Arbor Drive, with burial to follow at Forest Hill Cemetery. Remembrances may be made to Wisconsin State Journal's Youth Services Inc. (Box 856, Madison, WI 53708), or Temple Beth El (2702 Arbor Drive, Madison, WI, 53711).

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on June 7, 2004

Note: Anne Paley's class year is based on information in the 1938 Orange & Black yearbook, where she is pictured among the graduating seniors.