Helaine (Shalek) Gamer, a resident of Brookline for over 45 years, died at her home in Brookline, surrounded by her loving family on March 13, 2007. She was 73 years old.
Born in Chelsea, the daughter of the late Julius & Sophie (Safer) Shalek, Helaine was a graduate of the Choate School in Brookline & attended Emerson College in Boston. She married Fred Gamer in 1953 & together they started their life & family in Newton & Brookline. Helaine was the president of Warehouse Flowers, Gamer Real Estate, & an officer of numerous other family corporations. She was also a founder of the First Woman's Bank of Boston. A very involved person, it would be easier to count the religious & civic organizations that Helaine was not a member of instead of lisiting those where she enjoyed membership. Paramount to everything was Helaine's children & grandchildren. She also enjoyed shopping, dining out, & Pai-Gow Poker.
Helaine was the beloved wife of Freddie "Chiefy" Gamer. She is survived by 6 loving daughters & 16 grandchildren, Jayne & Dr. Jay Morgenstern of Brookline & their children Cara, Lana, Maya, & Jake; Linda Gamer Mintz of Brookline; Nancy & Professor Mark Yorra of Brookline & their children, Jessie, Katey, Mikey, & Liza; Debra & Professor Hillel Goldberg of Clarksville, MD, Laura & P.E. Ross Mackay of Wayland & their children Bryan, Kasey, Jenna, & Alan; Susan & Dr. Jerry Larar of Waverly, PA & their children, Brendan, Stephanie, Lauren, & David. She was the cherished sister of the late Mel Shalek & his wife Donna of Boston, NYC, & Palm Beach, FL. Sister-in-law of Dr. Frances Gamer of Randolph & the late Eddie Gamer of Boston. Also survived by her brother Dr. Seymour Shalek of Boston & sister Barbara Mallen of Chestnut Hill.
Helaine's funeral will be held on Friday, March 16, 2007 at 1:00 PM at Temple Sinai, 50 Sewall Ave. (Coolidge Corner) Brookline. Burial will follow in the Adath Jeshuran Cemetery, Grove St. West Roxbury. Memorial week will be held at Helaine's late residence, 376 Clinton Rd. Brookline.