Gertrude S. Victor, 94, teacher, sculptor, Buffalo State supporter
May 8, 1914 — June 29, 2008
She was born on a poultry farm in the Town of Alden. She attended a one-room schoolhouse and later taught in another one, in Marilla. She became an accomplished sculptor, whose work has been exhibited in Western New York. And in her later years, she went white-water rafting in Alaska at age 87 and gave a Buffalo State College art lecture after turning 90.
Gertrude S. Angert Victor lived a full life before she died Sunday in her Buffalo home. She was 94.
“She was always adventurous, active and inquisitive,” said her daughter, Linda Angert Kahn.
The former Gertrude Shleser went to a one-room school in Crittenden until sixth grade, when her family moved to Buffalo. She graduated from Hutchinson Central High School and Buffalo State Teachers College.
She began her teaching career in the one-room schoolhouse in Marilla, where she taught all subjects, kindergarten through eighth grade, and served as a frequent substitute soccer and baseball player on the school playground.
Mrs. Victor stoked the wood-burning stove before the children arrived at school, and an outhouse served as the bathroom. She lived with the country school’s female superintendent during the week and traveled home to Buffalo on the weekends, because the roads often weren’t plowed; when she got stuck, a farmer would come out to push her vehicle.
Ever the adventurer, she took flying lessons in the early 1930s, when female pilots were a rarity.
“She was a true renaissance woman,” said her son, Stuart H. Angert. “She never allowed any gender bias to dissuade her from exploring new horizons in an age when certain activities were limited to men.”
In her 80s, she spent four summers in Italy, sculpting in marble that came directly from the quarries.
Mrs. Victor remained a strong supporter of Buffalo State College and its art programs. The Gertrude Angert Victor Scholarship was created to support students majoring in art education at the college.
“She loved Buffalo State, and we loved her,” President Muriel Howard said. “She was a lovely woman who had a zest for life, saw the best in people and always shared her wonderful sense of humor with everyone.”
Mrs. Victor was an active board member at the Jewish Center of Buffalo for the last 64 years. She also served as an Israel Bonds chairwoman, a United Way volunteer and an organizer for the Town of Amherst Sesquicentennial. She belonged to Temple Beth El and Temple Beth Zion.
Mrs. Victor was preceded in death by two husbands: Henry Angert, her husband of 26 years who died in 1965, and Arthur Victor Jr., who died in 1991.
Surviving are her two children.
Services will be private.
— Gene Warner
