Sadie Greenman

Sadie Greenman passed away on Wednesday, October 27, 2021. She was born on February 3, 1931 to Celia and Nathan Greenman. Sadie grew up with her brother Harry in Houston, TX. After Sadie's mother passed away, her father remarried Anna who was a second mother to Sadie. Anna had two grown sons, Melvin and Max Marks, who thought of Sadie and Harry as their new siblings. They shared many special family meals and holidays together at Anna and Nathan's home. Sadie graduated from Reagan High School in 1949 where she competed on girls' volleyball, softball, and tennis teams. After high school she attended Massey Business College. Sadie had excellent secretarial and office management skills. She efficiently worked as a secretary for several companies. Sadie worked with her brother, Harry, at The Smart Shop. Sadie worked as the office manager with her brother Max and nephew Douglas at G & M Metals until her retirement. Sadie traveled to Israel with her cousins Annie and Bailey for a memorable experience. She was a member of Beth Yeshurun and served as an usher during the High Holidays for many years. Sadie was a longtime volunteer for Special Olympics. She spoke about how she loved helping children enjoy sporting activities and celebrate their accomplishments. Sadie was a volunteer for Special Recreation Services which supplied recreation programs and helped find jobs for challenged individuals. She worked on a joint project with the Special Recreation Services and the Houston Humane Society. Sadie wanted to give challenged individuals the opportunity to work for the Houston Humane Society. In 1989, Sadie received City of Houston's Mayor's Award for "Outstanding Volunteer Service." She was also the recipient of the Gift of Giving award for her volunteer efforts. Sadie always loved dogs and raised many well-trained poodles and a special wheaten terrier, Luke, who became the "Spoke's Dog" for the Houston Humane Society. In her early 50's, Sadie took up the sport of running. She then ran her first race in 1982, at the age of 51. It was a 10K she placed 2nd in her age group. She then decided to take on the challenge of distance running and ran her first marathon (26.2) miles in 1986 at the age of 55. Sadie dedicated her first marathon to her niece Phyllis Goren, who was bedridden with MS. Sadie ran many other marathons nearly always placing 1st or 2nd in her age group. She also competed in the Senior Olympics from 1989-1993. She ran track events consisting of the 50 yard dash to the mile, and in 1993 qualified for the US National Senior Sports Classic in Baton Rouge, LA coming in 4th overall. Sadie also completed and placed 1st or 2nd in her age group in 5 Sun Mart Ultra Marathons (31.6 miles). Sadie was dedicated and tough. How tough? In 1995 the Paris, France, marathon, Sadie fractured her hand just before the race, but managed to finish the marathon in 4 hours and 40 minutes. On Saturday, August 24, 1996 at Cullen Track at Memorial Park, running in hot and muggy conditions, a team of 100 Houston Area Road Runners Association (HARRA) women broke the Guinness Book of World Records mark for women's 100 mile by 1mile - relay. The rules of this competition require that 100 different women run 1 mile apiece, relay-style, on a measured track. This was the first known time that a group of women, all over the age of 40, had run a 100 by 1 mile relay. The team was anchored to its record-setting performance by 65-year-old Sadie Greenman. Not only did Sadie anchor her team to the world record performance, but she was at the track since 5 a.m. serving as chief volunteer in organizing the food and drink area for the runners and volunteers. In 1997 Sadie was a finisher in the New York marathon. In the 1998 Houston marathon, she placed 2nd in her age group. In 1999, Sadie ran in the Colorado Pike's Peak Ascent. In October 2000, she ran in the 25th Annual Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, D.C., placing in fourth the age group for 65-69. In all, Sadie ran dozens of marathons. Sadie did not like her running accolades to be lauded...especially if she placed below 1st place! On June 9, 2002, Sadie was inducted into the Ronnie Arrow Jewish Sports Hall of Fame for more than two decades of running marathons and her lifelong volunteerism. Sadie was a resident of the Memorial Park area and became an active member of the Al Lawrence Running Club. She served as the president of the club for several terms. The runners in this club became a family to Sadie as she traveled the country and the world for competitions with her close running friends. In 2001, for Sadie's 70th birthday the Al Lawrence Running Club dedicated a beautiful park bench in Memorial Park in her honor. The plaques' inscription read "Sadie Greenman, from your Memorial Park running Buddies, You Are A True Inspiration to All of Us." Sadie had nine nieces and nephews, seven great-nieces and nephews, and one great-great-nephew whom she all adored She spent time with each of them throughout the years attending birthdays, holidays, their sporting events, and graduations. "Aunt Sadie" was not an ordinary aunt - she took nieces or nephews on trips to Galveston, Disney Land, and made college campus visits. Aunt Sadie wrote letters to homesick summer campers and mailed care packages of delicious treats to college dorms. Aunt Sadie was always there at every important occasion for all of them. Sadie is survived by her brother Harry Greenman, sister-in-law Sarah Lee Marks, nephews and nieces, Jeffrey Greenman, Shelley Greenman (Herb Whalley), Rise Koben (Steve Cook), Linda Turboff (Ronnie), Douglas Marks, Marilyn Smolensky (Jay), Beverley Marks, and Jerold Marks. Great-nephews and great-nieces, Joey Smolensky, Scott Smolensky, Stacy Smolensky McCord (Matthew) and great-great-nephew Cameron McCord, Shayna Finn, Ben Finn, Brad Kaufman (Jen) and Morgan Kaufman. Sadie was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Ethel Goren, niece Phyllis Goren, brothers Melvin Marks, Max Marks and nephews Larry Marks and John MacKintosh, and special friend Connie Dickey. A graveside service will be held on Sunday afternoon, October 31, 2021 at 2:00 PM at Beth Yeshurun Post Oak Cemetery, 1037 Post Oak Rd. Houston, TX 77055. The family would like to thank the many loving caregivers that helped care for Sadie. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Sadie's memory to the Alzheimer's Association https://www.alz.org , Houston Humane Society https://www.houstonhumane.org/ or to the charity of your choice.

Sadie Greenman

February 3, 1931 - October 27, 2021