Margot Seitelman
Encyclopedia
Margot Seitelman was long-serving the first executive director
of American Mensa
, from 1961 (shortly after American Mensa's formation) until her death in 1989. The offices of the organization were originally in her apartment.
and immigrated to America, where she settled in Brooklyn, New York
.
, she appeared to be an excellent match. She did in fact run Mensa out of her Brooklyn apartment.
Her title is variously given as Director, Executive Secretary, and Executive Director.
Later, when the organization outgrew her ability to manage it part time out of her home, her duties were expanded to full time stewardship, and an office suite was rented – though still in the same building in which she lived.
In her 28 years as an employee, she became affectionately known as the mother of American Mensa, outlasting all its elected officials.
. At the time, she still held the Executive Director position for American Mensa. After her death, the organization moved its headquarters to Arlington, Texas
.
Executive director
Executive director is a term sometimes applied to the chief executive officer or managing director of an organization, company, or corporation. It is widely used in North American non-profit organizations, though in recent decades many U.S. nonprofits have adopted the title "President/CEO"...
of American Mensa
Mensa International
Mensa is the largest and oldest high-IQ society in the world. It is a non-profit organization open to people who score at the 98th percentile or higher on a standardised, supervised IQ or other approved intelligence test...
, from 1961 (shortly after American Mensa's formation) until her death in 1989. The offices of the organization were originally in her apartment.
Early life
Ms. Seitelman was born in Würzburg, GermanyWürzburg
Würzburg is a city in the region of Franconia which lies in the northern tip of Bavaria, Germany. Located at the Main River, it is the capital of the Regierungsbezirk Lower Franconia. The regional dialect is Franconian....
and immigrated to America, where she settled in Brooklyn, New York
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
.
Career
The American branch of Mensa International started forming in 1959. Two years later, it was incorporated, and began outgrowing its all-volunteer status, and needed a paid employee to manage its affairs. The original Mensa organization in Britain had set a model of having a housewife manage the organization out of her home. Thus, when Ms. Seitelman answered Mensa's advertisement in The New York TimesThe New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
, she appeared to be an excellent match. She did in fact run Mensa out of her Brooklyn apartment.
Her title is variously given as Director, Executive Secretary, and Executive Director.
Later, when the organization outgrew her ability to manage it part time out of her home, her duties were expanded to full time stewardship, and an office suite was rented – though still in the same building in which she lived.
In her 28 years as an employee, she became affectionately known as the mother of American Mensa, outlasting all its elected officials.
Death and afterward
Ms. Seitelman died of cancer on 5 November 1989, at age 61, in ManhattanManhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
. At the time, she still held the Executive Director position for American Mensa. After her death, the organization moved its headquarters to Arlington, Texas
Arlington, Texas
Arlington is a city in Tarrant County, Texas within the Dallas–Fort Worth metropolitan area. According to the 2010 census results, the city had a population of 365,438, making it the third largest municipality in the Metroplex...
.