Margot Seitelman

Margot Seitelman
Born	23 February 1928[1] Würzburg, Germany[1]
Died	5 November 1989[1] New York City[1]
Occupation	Housewife, Executive Director of American Mensa

Margot Seitelman (1928 – 1989) was long-serving the first executive director of American Mensa, from 1961 (shortly after American Mensa's formation) until her death in 1989. The offices of the organization were originally in her apartment.

Biography

Early life

Ms. Seitelman was born in Würzburg, Germany and immigrated to America, where she settled in Brooklyn, New York.

Career

The American branch of Mensa International started forming in 1959. Two years later, it was incorporated, and began outgrowing its all-volunteer status, and needed a paid employee to manage its affairs. The original Mensa organization in Britain had set a model of having a housewife manage the organization out of her home. Thus, when Ms. Seitelman answered Mensa's advertisement in The New York Times, she appeared to be an excellent match. She did in fact run Mensa out of her Brooklyn apartment.^[2][3]

Her title is variously given as Director, Executive Secretary, and Executive Director.

Later, when the organization outgrew her ability to manage it part time out of her home, her duties were expanded to full time stewardship, and an office suite was rented – though still in the same building in which she lived.^[2]

In her 28 years as an employee, she became affectionately known as the mother of American Mensa, outlasting all its elected officials.^[3]

Marriage and children

Ms. Seitelman married and had three sons. Her marriage lasted 40 years.^[1]

Death and afterward

Ms. Seitelman died of cancer on 5 November 1989, at age 61, in Manhattan. At the time, she still held the Executive Director position for American Mensa. After her death, the organization moved its headquarters to Arlington, Texas.^[4]

Awards

Though she served at the helm of American Mensa for 28 years, she never became a member. After her death, she was awarded an honorary membership.

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e} "Astro Databank". Astrodienst. http://www.astro.com/astro-databank/Seitelman,_Margot. Retrieved 2010-05-24. 
2. ^ ^{a b} Mary W. Matthews. "American Mensa's Early Years". http://www.extremelysmart.com/yankee/02k-AMLhist.php. Retrieved 2010-05-24. 
3. ^ ^{a b} "SCAM History". Space Coast Area Mensa. http://scam.us.mensa.org/hist/index.html. Retrieved 2010-05-24. 
4. ^ "American Mensa lI History of Mensa". http://www.us.mensa.org/Content/AML/NavigationMenu/AboutMensa/HistoryofMensa/MensaHistory.htm. 

Persondata
Name	Margot Seitelman
Alternative names
Short description	First, and long-serving, Executive Director of American Mensa
Date of birth	23 February 1928
Place of birth	Wurzburg, Germany
Date of death	5 November 1989
Place of death	New York City