In Memory of Rev. Joan R. Gelbein (October 23, 1935 – May 27, 2023)

We offer our condolences to the family and colleagues of the Rev. Joan R. Gelbein, who died on May 27, 2023, at the age of 87. Joan was born on October 23, 1935, in Brooklyn, NY to Harry Rose and Dorothy Eisler Rose. She grew up and was educated in the borough of Brooklyn ultimately graduating from Erasmus Hall High School in 1953. Her home life in terms of religion was modern, an assimilated Jew who did not regularly attend services at a synagogue. Throughout her youth and young adulthood, Joan did not question or participate in religious matters. In 1957, Joan graduated with her Bachelor of Fine Arts from The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, NY following which she started working as a graphic designer in the book publishing industry. Joan married Abe Gelbein in 1958 and had daughters, Eve, and Martha. In 1965, the family moved to Plainfield, NJ. At that point, Joan and Abe realized that it was time to commit to religious participation and activity. After conscious reevaluation, deep questions, and discussion they attended a service at the Plainfield Unitarian Society. Joan began to understand the magical catalyst of liberal religion and its potential for her life. She became deeply involved in the worship arts. This paralleled with a great amount of personal energy expended on many facets of church involvement and through the years extended out to Area Council and District levels. The convergence of different experiences, influences, and personal growth gradually wove into a more clearly perceived design of professional focus. In 1981, Joan received her Master of Divinity from Drew Theological School, NJ. Rev. Gelbein was ordained on June 27, 1982, by the Unitarian Church of Monmouth County, NJ. She served her first ministry as a minister/consultant at the Unitarian Fellowship of Ulster County in Kingston, NY (now UU Congregation of the Catskills) (1983-1986). Thereafter, she was a half-time interim minister at the First UU Church of Wichita Kansas, KS (1988). In 1989, Rev. Gelbein accepted a call from the UU Church of Arlington, VA where she would serve until 2003. At the Arlington congregation, she helped organize Young Adults; Women’s Support Groups; Extended Families; a Gay/Non-Gay Support Group; Vespers, a peace witness program during the Gulf War; a Depression Support Group, etc., and initiated programs for newcomers and new members. She supported the Welcoming Congregation Program, the Adult Education Program and did an excellent job of inspiring and including the lay participants. She shared art, poetry, and language awareness in the worship experience.  Counseling was another strong suit of her ministry where she remained available and responsive. Rev. Gelbein grew into the role and became a very beloved minister in a church community, especially to women in the community. In 2003, she retired from her active ministry; in 2009, the UU Church of Arlington honored her as their minister emerita. Rev. Gelbein modeled a mutual ministry that sought to empower people toward self-actualization, loving relationships, and responsible commitment. Her warmth, care, enthusiasm, humor, and intellectual style were valued. She had special skills in working with groups of people and producing outstanding services while also promoting harmonious group relationships. Rev. Gelbein was equally active in the denomination serving as the UU Summer Conference Dean for 1978 and 1979; and as a Workshop Presenter for the UUWF Biennial in 1985. From 2008 to 2013, she served as a Worship Committee Chair for the UU PEACE Fellowship (2008-2013). Furthermore, she was a member of the UUMA and the MSUU. In community, she was active in the ecumenical Arlington Ministerial Association. In her leisure time, she enjoyed walking, driving, traveling, experimental theatre and dance, photography, interior decoration, and gardening. Joan is survived by her husband of 65 years, Abe Gelbein; daughters: Eve Zuber (Robert) and Martha Woodard (Craig); as well as her grandchildren: Samantha Zuber, and Matthew and Benjamin Woodard. A celebration of Joan’s life will be held at 3 pm on September 9, 2023, at the Unitarian Universalist Peace Fellowship, 4104 Watkins Rd, Raleigh, NC 27616. Please call or text Abe at 919-608-1182 if you are planning to attend. The service will be live-streamed via Zoom (Meeting ID 6160204076; https://zoom.us/j/6160204076). Memorial donations may be made to Cooley Dickinson VNA & Hospice, 168 Industrial Drive, Northampton, MA 01060. Notes of condolence can be sent to Abe Gelbein, 6 Cranberry Ln, Easthampton, MA 01027.