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,
surrounded by loved ones.
Sondra was the only child born to Lester and Rose Golden in New York, New York. She obtained her BA in art history at Syracuse University. She married Charles “Chris” Gilman Jr. on Aug. 19, 1960, at Temple Emanuel in New York and raised two children, Hadley and Charles. Her husband, Charles, passed on Jan. 13, 1982.
She found love, once more, and married Celso Miguel Gonzalez-Falla on Aug. 16, 1986, while also inheriting seven stepchildren.
Sondra had a lifelong 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 10 musical theater 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 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 1,400-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 stepchildren, 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.