In a touching act of dedication, my friend Scott Prosterman has asked that his mother, Bert Adler Prosterman, be formally remembered on the occasion of her 90th birthday, which was this week.
I am happy to do so, since Bert is both a longtime acquaintance and a person of historical importance in the life and times of Memphis. As Scott explained in the first of two notes excerpted from here — his mother was a front-line soldier in the long and intermittently tragic saga of our city’s development and quest for a place in the affections of mankind.
Scott and his brother Gary Prosterman are currently involved in fundraising and other preliminaries for the establishment of a lasting testament, the Bert Adler Prosterman Honorarium at the Memphis Botanic Garden [see Note 2], which his mother graced with her attentions and leadership for 12 important years.
It is appropriate that Bert be accorded recognition in the course of Thanksgiving week, at a time when, to be frank, she is suffering from the ravages of great age, and in particular, from that plague that goes by the name of Alzheimer’s. She now resides at Belmont Village, where she is sustained by family, friends, and caregivers.
— JB
Note #1 from Scott Prosterman:
My mom, Bert Adler Prosterman [known in recent years as Bert Wolf] is 90 today [November 25]. Truly one of the greatest women of the Greatest Generation, Bert made enormous positive contributions to Memphis:
- President of the School Board during an awful time for school desegregation politics.
- Founding Board Member of the National Civil Rights Museum.
- General Director of Opera Memphis.
- Director of the Memphis Botanic Garden.
- Executive Director of the Memphis Epilepsy Foundation, which led to her getting kissed by Al Green on the stage of the Mid-South Coliseum at a benefit co-hosted by Radio WDIA.
- Endless volunteer work with PTA, United Cerebral Palsy Foundation, among others.
- Mother of four troublesome children, all of whom are prima donnas in their own fields. (Most families only have room for one.)
- Shelby County Schools HOF and Women of Achievement Honors.
I was born to a teenage Mom, when she was 19; so there was also a “big sister” dynamic starting when I was about 14. In a sense, we grew up together. Sadly, her Alzheimer’s pathology means she no longer participates, and we’ve had all of our substantive conversations. But she still knows her four children, has great care, and presents the never-ending sweetness she has been known for.
Note #2 from Scott Prosterman:
Family & Friends,
Our family is pleased to announce the Bert Adler Prosterman Honorarium Campaign at the Memphis Botanic Garden. We are collaborating to raise money for a tribute to our mother at The Garden, which she led for 12 years as Development Director and Interim Director. This coincides with Bert’s 90th birthday on November 25.
We have a fundraising goal of $50,000 to create a living tribute to Bert somewhere on the Garden property. I have seeded the Campaign with a $1,000 donation, and am asking friends and family members to consider offering what you can. If you can match or exceed what I’ve contributed, you’ll be richly rewarded for your generosity in this life and the next one. In fact, you’ll be rewarded for whatever you can contribute. You can make your financial commitment to the Bert Adler Prosterman Honorarium Fund at the Memphis Botanic Garden through this link here.
Bert lovingly stewarded the Garden for 12 years as Foundation Director and then Interim General Director. On my golf-cart Nickel Tour with Director MaryLynn Mack, I was amazed to see all the new buildings and programs since my last visit over 25 years ago. Its art, music, and children’s education programs have made it a more valuable Memphis institution. The Garden had a great history from its beginning in 1955 thanks to the Goldsmith and Mayer Meyers families. Bert’s leadership placed it on the track to grow into what it is today. My, how the Garden has grown.
It was gratifying to see how quickly the City of Memphis approved my proposal for the street naming of Bert Adler Prosterman Road on South Yates between Walnut Grove and Shady Grove. That was a slam dunk from two phone calls and an email on the strength of Bert’s legacy as School Board President, Founding Board Member of the National Civil Rights Museum, General Director of Opera Memphis, Director of the Memphis Epilepsy Foundation, and her tenure at The Garden. Our family will be grateful for any financial commitment you can make. Thank you.