Mardell Laverne ARONSON

1928 - 2016  (88 years)

• Name	Mardell Laverne ARONSON
  Birth	28 May 1928	Dakota County, Minnesota
  Gender	Female
  Minnesota Birth Certificate	1928-06983
  Death	2 Sep 2016	Santa Clara County, California
  Notes	Kindness, generosity, insight, curiosity, and deep caring for people characterized the life of Mardell Blaufarb (neé Aronson), inspiring and delighting all who knew her. She was born on May 28, 1928, and passed away on September 2, 2016. Mardell was born and raised on a farm in Lakeville, Minnesota. Her early education was in a one-room schoolhouse with eight grades under one roof. When a senior at Lakeville High School Mardell and a friend were the first female students to attend agriculture classes and join the local Future Farmers of America and 4H clubs. After earning a teaching credential at Mankato State Teachers College, Mardell taught third and fourth grades at elementary schools in Sacred Heart and Rushford, Minnesota. In 1947 she spent a year in Glendale, California working at Sears-Roebuck’s complaint department. In 1951 while taking summer classes at University of Colorado, Boulder, Mardell met U of C grad student, Gerard (Gerry) Blaufarb. In 1952 they eloped. Gerry graduated from University of Colorado Law School, and the couple moved to Alexandria, Virginia, where Mardell gave birth to Jonathan in 1957. In 1960 they moved to Kalamazoo, Michigan, where Ross was born. In 1966, they moved to Los Altos, California. A good fit with Mardell’s rural and agricultural influences, the suburban town still had working apricot orchards. A loving, nurturing, dedicated, engaged parent, Mardell volunteered her talents to numerous organizations—PTA, Little League, Los Altos High School Marching Band, Sigma Phi Society Mothers’ Club. Mardell’s welcoming presence caused many of Jon and Ross’s friends to make the Blaufarbs’ their second home. Mardell devoted herself to granddaughters Ali and Nicky. She and Gerry took them on many adventures in the US and abroad. Through her volunteer work Mardell had many friends at Los Altos History Museum and Sister Cities (receiving a Los Altos Community Foundation service award). She also enjoyed the fellowship of Vasa Order Of America (Swedish-American Society). Mardell loved local theater, opera, and ballet. She donated her body to UCSF’s Willed Body Program to further medical knowledge. Mardell’s parents, Richard and Sophie Aronson, and her sister, Mary Lou Ruh preceded her in death. Surviving Mardell are husband, Gerry; sons, Jonathan and Ross; granddaughters, Alexandra and Nicole; great-grandson, Theodore; sister, Betty; brother, Glenn; Sister-in-law, Claire, and many nieces, nephews, cousins and in-laws in Minnesota, Massachusetts, New York and California.
  Person ID	I14863	Don Carlson's Tree
  Last Modified	6 Jul 2025

  
  

  Father	Richard William ARONSON,   b. 18 Mar 1904, Minnesota d. 8 Sep 1978, Dakota County, Minnesota (Age 74 years)
  Mother	Sophie Olena BERGSTROM,   b. 21 Dec 1904, Minnesota d. 14 Nov 1997, Rice County, Minnesota (Age 92 years)
  Marriage	6 Mar 1926	Scott County, Minnesota
  Family ID	F8963	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Gerard BLAUFARB
  Family ID	F10995	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	6 Jul 2025