Hilda Tomar Ederer died on Feb. 25 in her Bethesda, Maryland home. She was born on May 21, 1931, the daughter of Julius and Ethel (Weinreb). Hilda attended Girls High School in Philadelphia before achieving bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Pennsylvania. Hilda taught languages before moving to Washington, D.C. While working for the United States Information Agency, she screened films to be shown overseas.
She met her future husband, Fred Ederer, while writing and performing “It’s a Crime to be Single” at Temple Sinai Synagogue, combining their mutual love of singing, dancing and laughing. They married on March 30, 1958, a few months after the sudden death of her father. Hilda and Fred both loved opera, classical and folk music. They helped organize the Song Swappers, a group that met monthly to perform and exchange music from multiple countries. The Ederers with others performed this music regionally, including at a wrestling match in Baltimore.
Hilda loved entertaining, including Fred’s Chamber Music Group where the music competed with the nosh. For years, she oversaw large Passover seders, barking out instructions to her conscripted family staff. Hilda and Fred had three children, Julian, Judith and Susan. She dearly loved them. They were developmentally disabled, leading to the Ederers playing significant roles in advancing legislation and programs to improve the care and prospects of all such individuals.
Memorial contributions may be made to WeAchieve, Inc., 10501 New Hampshire Ave, Silver Spring, MD 20903 and the ARC of Montgomery County Inc., 7362 Calhoun Place, Rockville, MD 20855. Services entrusted to Sagel Bloomfield Danzansky Goldberg Funeral Care.