Obituary
Carol Gelman Friedhoffer, of Columbia, MD, passed away on Friday, October 8th, 2021 at the age of 77. She is survived by her husband, Jeff Friedhoffer; children, Beth (John) Maier and Randy Friedhoffer (Rose Afriyie); brother, Arnold (late Janice) Gelman; and beloved grandchildren, Matthew, Emily, Calvin and Bryan. Carol was predeceased by her parents, Marian and Sol Gelman; and her son, Adam Friedhoffer.
Carol grew up in Philadelphia with a loving family in a true family home, her grandparents, parents, brother, aunt, uncle and cousins all living under one roof. She attended Girls High and the University of Delaware, from which she graduated with a degree in Elementary Education and, most importantly, where she met her husband, Jeff. Carol taught second grade and also earned a Masters in Education, while Jeff was in graduate school. Then taking a sabbatical from paid work to begin her unpaid, lifetime job of a mother, first to a baby girl, Beth, and then twin boys, Adam and Randy. She was a wonderful mother raising three wonderful children. In addition, she somehow found time to earn another Masters degree, this time in Computer Science. As the children grew she went back into the paid workforce, while still being a full time mom and wife. Carol worked at NSA for 25 years, as a computer programmer and then as a manager developing network security systems in the COMSEC/INFOSEC/IAD organizations. She was a caring leader, role model and mentor who offered a smile and wisdom to many. After retirement, she continued to support the NSA mission, working for several years as a contractor for Sparta. Upon her final retirement, she discovered a hidden talent, painting in water color, resulting in many beautiful works. Among her many and widely different accomplishments, her real joy over the past twenty years was her role as Nana to four adoring grandchildren. They were her favorite subjects of the many she painted. She also valued having more time to spend with friends who treasured her company.
Services at Temple Isaiah, 12200 Scaggsville Road, Fulton, MD, 20759, on Tuesday, October 12th, 2021 at 10am. Interment Columbia Memorial Park. Please omit flowers. Contributions in her memory may be sent to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, 199 Water Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10038.
Arrangements by Sol Levinson. www.sollevinson.com