Inger M. Gilbert

CAYUGA HEIGHTS - Inger Molmen Gilbert, age 88, of Cayuga Heights, NY passed away Sunday, April 24, 2016 at The Bridges of Cornell Heights, Ithaca, NY. Born July 24, 1927 at the Norwegian Hospital in Brooklyn, NY to Otto M. Molmen and Gudrun Nustad Molmen who emigrated from Norway in the early twenties. Inger's first language was Norwegian which she retained for life. As she learned English, she would teach her mother. She had a younger brother, Otto George Molmen who predeceased her. She is survived by her husband, John J. (Jack) Gilbert Jr. of Cayuga Heights, NY, children, Gael Eileen Gilbert of Fayetteville, NY, Mari (Ron) Gilbert Kosobucki of Hamburg NY, John J. (Diana) Gilbert III of New Rochelle, NY, Ellen (Gary) Gilbert Anstett of Hamburg, NY and Marta (Tom) Gilbert Lowe of Binghamton NY, grandchildren, Erik (Jennifer) Kosobucki, John J. Gilbert IV, Paul Anstett, Emily Lowe, Colleen Anstett, Christopher Lowe and three great-grandchildren. At an early age, she moved with her parents to Port Washington, NY where she lived until her marriage. She graduated from Port Washington High School in June 1945 and was judged to be the "Best All Around" woman in her graduating class.
She entered the School of Home Economics at Cornell University in the Fall of 1945 and joined the Kappa Delta Sorority. During the 1946 Christmas vacation she accepted the invitation of Jack Gilbert to join him at Frank Dailey's Meadowbrook in New Jersey for Cornell night. For both Inger and Jack it was an instant recognition that this relationship was forever. They married on September 11, 1949 after both graduated from Cornell.
While at Cornell, Inger pursued a balanced mix of school and social activities. In her Sophomore year she was voted the Ag-Domecon Queen. In her Junior year she lived in Anna Comstock Hall and was dorm president. Comstock was next door to Jack's home at the Theta Xi Fraternity.
After graduating from Cornell and getting married, Inger joined Jack back in Syracuse at his small apartment. Soon, they had a small two bedroom house built at 189 Fiscoe Avenue in Syracuse where they lived until Jack changed jobs in 1954 and they moved to Binghamton with daughters Gael and Mari. Next a move to Chestertown, MD, a charming community on the Delmarva Peninsula. A year later having added son John III, they left for Western New York. This period of Inger's life was busy raising kids-three in four years!
In Western New York they settled down in Hamburg, a suburb of Buffalo, first in a large apartment and then into a five bedroom house where they lived for 42 years and added Ellen and Marta to their family for a total of five children. While in Hamburg, Inger kept busy tending to her children and husband. She found time for a deep involvement over many years in the Girl Scouts and PTA. She was active in the Hamburg Presbyterian Church having served two three-year terms as a Ruling Elder and singing in the choir. She worked for several years as an aide in the pre-kindergarten program in the Hamburg School System. She was a volunteer at two Presbyterian homes for the elderly in Buffalo. Inger enjoyed reading and sewing. Her sewing skills were evidenced when she won Best of show at the Erie County, New York Fair. In 1991 she was elected to the Board of Directors of the College of Human Ecology Alumni Association.
After Jack's retirement in 1990 they spent their winters in Florida at New Smyrna Beach. This allowed them to get together with close Cornell friends who had retired and had gone south. During a walk on the beach in Florida, Jack and Inger decided they would look for a home in Ithaca, NY. In the summer of 1997, after looking at many homes over a two year span, Inger finally made up her mind and choose a four bedroom home in Cayuga Heights. The main selling point was that the three Oriental rugs she had picked up fit into the living room, dining room and master bedroom. In 2011, they moved in Cayuga Heights to a very nice four bedroom ranch home which meant they didn't have to climb stairs anymore.
While in the Ithaca area, Inger was active as a volunteer in the School of Human Ecology and enjoyed attending Cornell hockey and football games. She also enjoyed theatre at Cornell, Ithaca College and Hangar Theatre. As a member of the Cornell Class of 1949 she served twice as Reunion Co-Chairman and was a class vice president. She was a lifelong member of the Cornell University Council and served on boards responsible for the operation of McGraw House in Ithaca. In January 2012, Inger and Jack received the William Vanneman "31 Outstanding Class Leader award from Cornell University.
There will be a private service in celebration of her life at a later date. In lieu of flowers, consider making a donation to a charity of your choice.