Irwin Gilden

Irwin Gilden, aged 96.5, formerly of Lake Worth, FL and Long Island, NY, passed away on January 15 at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. He was the son of the late Samuel and Elizabeth Goldstein. He leaves his beloved bride of 74 years, Marilyn Krieger Gilden. Their love affair began when they were 15 and 16 years old at Sharei Tefilah Synagogue in Far Rockaway, NY.

Irwin was the very best Dad to his devoted daughters and their husbands, Susan and Robert Freedman, and David Freedman, and Shelley and Robert Fish. He was the adored Poppop to Alyson Freedman, Adam Freedman, Scott and Alli Fish, and Andrew Fish, and the Great Poppop to Finn Rowe Fish.

Irwin was predeceased by his loving brother-in-law Maxwell Krieger, and leaves his sister-in-law Bette Krieger Halpert and her husband Jay Halpert, and his New York nieces and nephews and their families.

Irwin was born in Lawrence, NY, was the valedictorian of his Hebrew School, served in WWII, and then graduated from NYU. He had a long and successful career in retail advertising, which brought him to the Boston area in the 1970s.

Irwin was an avid sportsman who enjoyed horseback riding, racquetball, skiing, swimming laps, and golf.  He loved to bodysurf and swim buoy to buoy at Atlantic Beach, Douses Beach, and West Palm Beach. He and Marilyn enjoyed bridge games with friends and family.

Poppop loved watching his grandsons participate in High School ski races, even during extreme cold temperatures. A highlight of Poppop’s birthday celebrations was listening to his granddaughter sing Edelweiss and My Heart Will Go On, his favorite song.

Irwin was a talented color-blind artist, whose beautiful oil paintings hang in the homes of many of his family and friends.

A private graveside service will be held at Sharon Memorial on Wednesday. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Shohet Family Fund for Ewing Sarcoma Research in honor of Irwin and Marilyn’s young cousin, Noah.