Sondra Gilman | 1926 - 2021 | Obituary
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November 26, 1926 - May 26, 2021
On Wednesday, May 26, 2021, Sondra Minette Gilman Gonzalez-Falla, loving wife, mother, and
grandmother passed away of natural causes in her home at The Lakes in Kingsland, GA
surrounded by loved ones.
Sondra was the only child born to Lester and Rose Golden in New York, NY. She obtained her
BA in Art History at Syracuse University. She married Charles “Chris” Gilman, Jr. on August 19,
1960, at Temple Emmanuel in New York, NY, and raised two children, Hadley and Charles. Her
husband, Charles, passed on January 13, 1982. She found love, once more, and married Celso
Miguel Gonzalez-Falla on August 16, 1986, while also inheriting seven step-children.
Sondra had a life-long passion for the arts, especially American Musical Theater and
Photography. In 1991, with her husband, Celso, they created the Gilman and Gonzalez-Falla
Musical Theater Foundation. Through the Foundation, she participated in over 21 Broadway,
Off-Broadway, and Regional productions, over ten musical theatre albums, and various musical
festivals, readings, showcases, and fellowship grants. She was Tony-nominated as a producer
of the award-winning Broadway musical, Sophisticated Ladies. She was a trustee of Lincoln
Center Theatre and the Patron’s Room in the lobby is named after her late husband and herself.
She joined the Board of the American Theatre Wing in 2000, and also served for four years as
its Chairman. She also served on the Board of RKO Pictures. Sondra was honored with the
following awards; Theatreworks U.S.A.’s Lee Salk Good Works Award, Musical Theatre Works
Annual Award for Distinguished Contributions to Musical Theatre, and was honored by Urban
Stages with her husband for promoting and supporting the American Musical Theatre. She was
the Chairman of the Sondra and Charles Gilman Jr. Foundation, Inc.; President of the Gilman
and Gonzalez-Falla Theater Foundation, Inc. She joined the Board of the Whitney Museum of
American Art in 1978 and served as its past Vice-President and member of the Executive
Committee, as well as a member of the Acquisition Committee. She was active with the
Aperture Foundation, and was a Vice President for many years. She helped create the
photography collection at the Whitney. The Photography Curatorial Chair, the Photography
Gallery at Whitney and the Study Center at are named in her honor. Sondra started the Gilman
Paper Company Collection as well as a personal photography collection, which has traveled
extensively to museums throughout the United States and Europe. ArtNews Magazine named
her and her husband one of the Top 10 Photography Collectors in the world. As Chairman of
Soncel Financial Inc., she was developing The Lakes, a 1400 acre planned community in
Kingsland, GA. Sondra also loved traveling. Over the years, she and Celso spent many summers with friends in
the South of France and Luca, Italy in addition to travels to Mexico, South America, Europe, and
Asia. She enjoyed going to the opera as a member of the Metropolitan Opera Club.
She was known for her quick wit and her ready smile.
Sondra is survived by her husband, Celso M. Gonzalez-Falla, her children, Hadley R. Gilman and
Charles E. Gilman III (Marilyn), her step-children, Celso M. Gonzalez-Falla, Jr. (Deborah Knapp),
Jose I. Gonzalez- Falla (Rachel), Marylis McGrath (James), Christine Gonzalez-Falla, Julia M.
Gonzalez-Falla, Susana A. Gonzalez-Falla, Barbara A. Gonzalez-Falla (Taylor Hunt), David Goerk
(son-in-law), and her grandchildren, Andrée L. Gonzalez-Falla, Jade Gilman, Michael A.
McGrath, Ryan B. Gonzalez-Falla, Elizabeth M. LaPenotiere, William J. McGrath, Connor W.
Gonzalez-Falla, Charles I. Gilman IV, David “Gus” Gilman Goerk, Mark S. LaPenotiere, Jr. and
Evan G. Gilman.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests those who wish to express sympathy to consider making a
donation to the Whitney Museum Photography committee.
Allison Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
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