Gilda Kugler Aronovic
1929 – 2025
Gilda K. Aronovic grew up in a poor immigrant Jewish family in NYC on the Lower East Side. Born on May 26th, 1929, a few minutes after her twin sister Hilda, they were the first children of David and Anna Steir Kugler, joined a few years later by sister Frieda and brother Michael. It was a family that expected hard work from every member, and also a loving family. David was a chicken butcher, Anna took care of the home and children, and they both worked hard to give their children an opportunity in their wonderful, adopted country.
Growing up, Gilda was a smart student who loved to read and was a good athlete.
She did well in school, but also had to help with the family poultry business, delivering packages to Brooklyn via the subway. She graduated from Brooklyn College and became a math teacher. Unfortunately, her first placement was at a school in Harlem, and it was terrible experience for her. Luckily, around the same time, she met Sanford Aronovic, a PhD. in Analytical Chemistry, and they raised a family, after a few moves, in Princeton, NJ. Both Gilda and Sandy were active parts of the Jewish Community, with Gilda staying home with the kids and then taking a job at The Jewish Center of Princeton teaching Hebrew School. While her kids were in school, Gilda learned how to paint and became a successful local artist in Princeton, having her work displayed in McCarter Theater shows and at The Jewish Center of Princeton. When Sandy’s father, who had retired and moved to Florida, found it too hard to live alone, she took him in to live in their house and even taught him to paint in his 90’s, his works proudly being displayed in a few shows in Princeton.
When Sandy was laid off during one recession, those hard times in the 70’s and 80’s when the R&D people would go first, Gilda took a course and became a real estate agent with John Henderson and Company, a firm later sold to Sotheby’s. To devote more time to work, she expected her children, Danny, Allen, and Diane, to step up and cook one meal for the family per week as pre-teens.
Gilda worked hard and thrived in her job as a real estate agent, becoming the main breadwinner for her family. She inspired her children as someone who could pivot when necessary and succeed. She worked in real estate into her 80’s, walking across town to work when possible, noticing when places were for sale by owner to get listings and helping Jewish families merge into the Princeton Jewish Community. Sandy passed away in 2016, and Gilda continued to paint and walk across town into her early 90’s.
After COVID, and the onset of cognitive decline, which saw her son Asher taking care of her for a couple of years, she needed a more structured place to live and became a resident at Ciel Princeton. The people at Ciel took good care of Gilda, always marveling at her ability to clap and sing and dance, until she couldn’t anymore. Gilda passed away on May 21, 2025, five days before her 96th birthday. It was a life well lived, and she is survived by her sons Daniel and Asher Yaron, and daughter Diane, as well as grandchildren Stephanie, Allison, Margo, Anna, and Sophia. Finally, too, by her great-grandchildren, Jonathan, Tia, and Atai.
Funeral services and burial were held at Princeton Cemetery.
Funeral arrangements are by Orland’s Ewing Memorial Chapel. For condolences, please visit Gilda’s obituary page at OrlandsMemorialChapel.com/Gilda-Aronovic