Gladys Seisler, a retired elementary and special education teacher from Long Island, N.Y., and a 21-year resident of Alexandria, died on Jan. 28, 2014 after six years battling fourth stage breast cancer. She was 86 years old.
Gladys was an ardent community activist involved in local politics and a variety of philanthropic activities wherever she lived. Gladys was recognized as an Alexandria Living Legend in 2007 for her founding and on-going leadership of the Naughty Knitters, a group of women who knit clothes for impoverished children, needy families in the U.S. and abroad, as well as U.S. military personnel serving abroad.
She was known for her robust sense of humor and spirited involvement in the Montebello apartments where she made a lasting impression on her many friends. Gladys is survived by her sister Marilyn, her son Jeffrey, two grandchildren, a great grandson, and five nieces and nephews.
Gladys was affiliated with two organizations for needy children that are appropriate for donations in her name: Community Partners for Children, based in Alexandria (http://cpc.wildapricot.org) and the USDAN Center for the Creative and Performing Arts (specifically to the Arnold P. Hruska Scholarship) http://www.usdan.com/financialaid/.