Esther Marilyn (Sohn) Allen, 89, passed away on July 17, 2024, in Solomons, MD. Esther was born on May 11,1935, in Springfield, MA, to Wilfred and Gertrude Sohn. She was a graduate of Deering High School in Portland, Maine. Esther was married for five years to Jerome Matus, with whom she had two children – Joseph Matus and Susan (Matus) Helmrich.
After living in Portland for more than 30 years, Esther moved to the Orlando (FL) area in 1972. There, she served as Executive Secretary to the Chairman of Sun Banks. After 25 years in that capacity, she retired in in 1997 to follow her passion — at age 62, Esther began her second (20-year) career as a Tai Chi teacher.
Esther loved her family, friends, and students deeply; and she put her children above all else. She was a force of nature – whatever she set her mind to, she accomplished. In her youth, she played duo pianos (classical music), along with her twin sister, Barbara. Esther loved to cook/bake – there was always homemade ice cream in the freezer; and she self-published two cookbooks (muffins and quick-breads). Esther created stunning needlepoints of “old masters” paintings. She traveled to China to study Tai Chi and was voted the best Tai Chi instructor in the Orlando area. She was also an avid card-player; in her later years, she became an accomplished bridge-player.
Esther is survived by her children, Joseph (Nora) Matus and Susan (Gerald) Helmrich; by her grandchildren, Eric (Ashley) Helmrich, Andrew Matus, and Gabrielle Matus; by her great-grandchildren, Theodore Helmrich and Dylan Helmrich; as well as by her beloved nieces/nephews and their children/grandchildren.
Esther is preceded in death by her parents, Wilfred and Gertrude Sohn; and her sisters, Vivian Slosberg and Barbara Rogers Jolovitz. A graveside service will be held at Temple Beth El Cemetery in Portland, Maine on Monday, July 22, 2024. at 11:00 am. The Portland Jewish Funeral Home will be handling the funeral arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to:
End Hunger in Calvert County
PO Box 758
Huntingtown MD 20639
www.endhungercalvert.org
American Heart Association
PO Box 840692
Dallas, TX 75284-0692
www.heart.org