Congregation Neveh Shalom is saddened to share the passing of Sondra Pearlman, z"l, who passed away as Shabbat arrived on Friday, July 17, 2026. Sondra was the beloved wife of Gordon, mother of Mark and Aaron, mother-in-law of Tracey Rogers and Sacha Reich, and grandmother of Lev, Ravit, and Elliot/Em

Sondra was dedicated to gathering family and friends together whenever possible. She was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer over 17 years ago and vowed to survive. In 2012, she had a brain metastasis and received full-brain radiation. The cancer never returned, and though she slowly declined due to effects from the radiation, she was the ultimate in mind over matter and continued with many trips to Mexico and around the world. She was steadfast in being here to celebrate Gordon’s 80th birthday in 2022 and their 60th anniversary in August 2023 with the wedding reception they never had, where she surprised all with an impassioned speech about family and friends. Her last trip was just before that, when she traveled to Arkansas to walk her nephew, Chuck Mills, down the aisle. The last big celebration was in August 2024 when her lady friends gathered for an 80th birthday luncheon.

Sondra was the founder of Oregon Children's Theatre and served as the Executive Director from 1988 to 2004. As her star on the sidewalk outside the Newmark Theatre in downtown Portland proclaims, she brought “Children’s Theatre to Millions.” In 2003, Sondra was awarded the Oregon Governor’s Arts Award by Gov. Ted Kulongoski.

Born on August 28, 1944, in Minneapolis, MN, Sondra lost her mom, Laura, as an infant and grew up with her father, Irving Mills, stepmom, Marge Kronick, and brother, Jeff Mills (Marcia), who have all left us. She and Gordon married two weeks after her 19th birthday and lived in New Orleans and North Carolina before fate carried them to Portland due to a great story around Gordon’s involvement with A Chorus Line’s move to Broadway.

Sondra is survived by her loving husband of nearly 63 years, Gordon, her sons, Mark and Aaron, her daughters-in-law, Tracey Rogers and Sacha Reich, her grandchildren, Lev, Ravit, and Elliot/Em, and many cousins, nieces, nephews, others who called her “mom”, and much adopted “family” in Portland.

Sondra was also a huge music fan, attending hundreds of concerts and always dancing and singing along. She lived the dream of her favorite James Taylor song – “The secret of life is enjoying the passage of time. ” We hope that you had the chance to enjoy one of her famous chocolate chip cookies!

A service was held Tuesday, July 21, at Havurah Shalom in Portland. Donations can be made in her memory to the Sondra Pearlman Memorial Fund at Oregon Children's Theatre.