Marthamae Cohen Schlow, of Vero Beach, Fla., and formerly of Altoona and State College, died Saturday, Feb. 13, 2010, at the Nursing and Restorative Care Center in Stuart, Fla., one month shy of her 92nd birthday.
She was born in Providence, R.I., to the late Dora and Simon Cohen. She graduated high school from Erasmus Hall in Brooklyn, N.Y. On May 28, 1939, she married Frank Schlow. They lived in State College, where she was active in the family business, Schlow's Quality Shop, until it closed in the 1960s. Marty started the first Sunday school for the Jewish community in the 1940s. She was also active in the State College Community Theater and was a founding member of the State College Women's Club. She was a volunteer at Centre Community Hospital in Bellefonte.
After her husband's death in 1965, she returned to Penn State, where she earned her bachelor's degree in 1967 in home economics, and her master's degree in speech in 1969. She taught speech communications at Penn State-Altoona from 1969 to 1982. Her 13 years in Altoona were filled with the joy of teaching her many students and interacting with her colleagues. She became a beloved member of the Altoona community.
In 1982, she retired to Vero Beach, Fla., where she continued to work in community theater. She won a state Literacy Council Award for her leadership in teaching English to adults who spoke only Spanish. For many years, she wrote a column for the Vero Beach Press Journal about Lakewood Park, where she resided. Her later interests included traveling with Elderhostel throughout the world, playing bridge and teaching that skill to others.
She is survived by three children, Stephen, of Orlando, Fla., David and his wife, Lynn, of State College, and Deborah, of St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada. She had six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
At her request, her body will be cremated. There will be no service at this time. A celebration of her life will be held in Florida in May.
In lieu of flowers contributions can be made in her name to the Religious School Fund, Congregation Brit Shalom, 620 E. Hamilton Ave., State College, PA 16801; or to Indian River County Main Library, 1600 21st St., Vero Beach, FL 32960.