Obituary: Saralyn Bonowitz Oberdorfer
Saralyn Bonowitz Oberdorfer, age 93, passed away Dec. 23, 2024.
Saralyn Bonowitz Oberdorfer, age 93, passed away Dec. 23, 2024. She is survived by her children, Julie (Oberdorfer) Leibel (Steven) (Dahlonega, Ga.), Robin (Oberdorfer) Kottman (Stacy) (Dahlonega), and grandchildren, Lauren Leibel (Atlanta), Jaclyn Kottman Hittner (Stephen) (Wisconsin Rapids, Wisc.), Michelle Leibel (Los Angeles, Calif.), Jonathan Leibel (Atlanta), Ryan Kottman (Decatur, Ga.) and Joel Kottman (Dahlonega). She was preceded in death by her husband, Eugene Oberdorfer II (2019) and son, Mike Oberdorfer (2023).
Saralyn was born in Shreveport, La., on September 13, 1931, to Joe and Faye (Conway) Bonowitz. Growing up, Saralyn lived in many cities due to her father’s career as a professional Minor League baseball player. After graduating from San Mateo High School (San Mateo, Calif.), Saralyn attended Stephens College (Columbia, Mo.) for two years and then graduated from the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill (UNC) in 1953, where she met her future husband, Gene Oberdorfer, to whom she was married for 65 years.
At UNC, Saralyn was involved in campus activities and was inducted into the Order of the Grail – Valkyries honorary. After graduating from UNC with a degree in English and teaching, Saralyn taught third grade for one year in the Atlanta school system before she and Gene began their family (Mike, Julie, and Robin), and was also a fashion model for various print advertising and Rich’s department store.
Over the years, Saralyn served as a leader of elementary and high School PTAs, North Fulton PTA Council, and the State PTA Board where she served as legislative liaison. That led to her appointment to the Georgia State Board of Education in 1976 – the first Jewish person to hold that position. While on the Board, Saralyn promoted public kindergarten throughout the state and worked to rid high school textbooks of sexism and antisemitism. Saralyn also served on the Board of Education’s television committee to make public broadcasting more available across the state. In 1977, Saralyn was appointed to the national PBS Board where she advocated for more educational programming for children. She lobbied the General Assembly to create the State Telecommunications Commission of which she became the chairman, successfully working to establish National Public Radio stations throughout Georgia. She then served for four years on the Atlanta Fulton County Public Library Board and was a founding member of the Sandy Springs Society, a philanthropic organization supporting the surrounding community.
Saralyn and Gene developed a semi-independent living program for developmentally disabled adults, including their son, Mike, that later became the Jewish Family & Career Services Independent Living Program. The Oberdorfers were founding members of Temple Sinai in Sandy Springs and later became members of The Temple in Atlanta. They were also supporters of the Department of Jewish Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and avid Tarheel basketball fans.
During retirement, Saralyn enjoyed her six grandchildren at their homes in Dahlonega and Longboat Key, Fla., where she and Gene were avid supporters of the Holly Theater (Dahlonega) and the Asolo Theatre (Sarasota, Fla.).
Saralyn lived with dementia during her last five years but continued to enjoy conversations with family and friends, and singing and dancing to her favorite music. She also knitted hundreds of beautiful scarves, a hobby which she worked at every day, giving her purpose and enjoyment.
A memorial service celebrating Saralyn’s life will be on Friday, Jan. 17, at 2 p.m. at the H.M. Patterson & Son – Arlington Chapel at 173 Allen Rd NE, Sandy Springs, GA 30328. Visitation with the family will be at 1 p.m., prior to the service at 2 p.m., with a reception following.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Saralyn’s memory can be made to The Annandale Foundation, providing fee assistance for developmentally disabled adults at Annandale Village in Suwanee, Ga. (www.annandale.org).
- Saralyn Bonowitz Oberdorfer
- Obituary
- Obituaries
- Lifecycle
- Lifecycles
- San Mateo High School
- Stephens College
- University of North Carolina
- Order of the Grail – Valkyries
- North Fulton PTA Council
- Georgia State Board of Education
- State Telecommunications Commission
- Atlanta Fulton County Public Library Board
- Sandy Springs Society
- Jewish Family & Career Services
- Temple Sinai
- The Temple
- Holly Theater
- Asolo Theatre
- H.M. Patterson & Son – Arlington Chapel
- The Annandale Foundation
- Annandale Village
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