Norfolk—Marian Nordin Gutterman, 97, passed away peacefully on Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013.
She was born in Baltimore, Md., and was the daughter of Ellis and Sarah Nordin. Marian was predeceased by her husband, Judge Morris B. Gutterman, and her brother and sister Henry Nordin and Edith N. Cohen both of Baltimore.
Marian was an accomplished pianist, a graduate of the Peabody Conseratory in Baltimore. During these years, she was also active in the arts salons and participated in political and literary discussion groups held at the Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore with such notables as the historian Eric Goldman and the poet Karl Shapiro.
Marian moved to Norfolk when she married her husband, then a young lawyer, in 1943. Together they crisscrossed the country during World War II before settling in Norfolk where Marian continued her music studies, performing piano duets with Clifford Herzer and later teaching piano privately and at the Bristow Hardin School of Music.
As her children grew older, Marian turned to activities in the Norfolk community. After taking an art class at the Jewish Community Center in the mid-1950s, she discovered that she had a gift for drawing and painting; she further expanded her artistic aptitude by studying at Old Dominion University with Charles Sibley and A.B. Jackson. Her work was exhibited at Old Dominion and on one occasion accepted into the Irene Leache exhibit at the Chrysler Museum.
Marian loved the cultural arts. She was a life-long subscriber to the Virginia Symphony, a volunteer at the Chrysler Museum and also spent time volunteering at the Juvenile Courts and the Senior Center. In addition, Marian was a voracious reader and an ardent animal lover. She also loved to travel, and she and her husband were fortunate enough to visit many of the great cities of the world.
Marian is survived by her three children, Judy Gutterman of Norfolk, Richard Gutterman of Virginia Beach, Phyllis (Elon) Pollack of Manhattan Beach, Calif., and her beloved dog, Peanut.
Graveside services were held at Forest Lawn Cemetery with Cantor Wally Schachet-Briskin officiating. Memorial donations may be made to the charity of choice. H.D. Oliver Funeral Apts. Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.hdoliver.com.