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Zelma Jeanne "Zell" Schulman, passed away Wednesday, September 17th, 2025. She was 97. She was born February 21, 1928 to the late Harry and Henrietta (nee Jacobs) Sharff. Devoted wife for 50+ years to the late Melvin Schulman of Cincinnati, Ohio. Loving mother of Stuart & Carol Ann Schulman of Cincinnati, Karen & Avi Bear of Cynthiana, KY, Alan & Stacey Schulman of West Orange, NJ, and H. Glenn & Carole Doyle Schulman of Cincinnati. Cherished "Bubbie" & Grandmother to 11 grandchildren and great-grandmother to 9 adored great-grandchildren. Referred to as "A true Force of Nature" by Cincinnati Magazine, Zell Schulman touched countless lives throughout the Cincinnati community. She was the author of four cookbooks (MacMillan Publishing) including "Let My People Eat" and spent decades as a beloved food columnist for The American Israelite, where she was known for "Zell's Bites" and "The Modern Jewish Cook." Named a Cincinnati Enquirer "Woman of the Year" in 1975, she dedicated her life to serving others - from translating Yiddish and German for Holocaust survivors at Jewish Hospital to teaching inner-city children to swim at her Amberley Village home where she hosted foreign exchange students, international opera singers and notable members of the Women's Rights movement in the 1970’s including Gloria Steinem and Bella Abzug. A passionate advocate for the Cincinnati Arts and Jewish communities, Zell was Co-Founder of the Friends of the College Conservatory of Music (CCM), the former President of the Women's Division of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and served as former Chair of Hospitality for the Cincinnati Opera Company. She participated in numerous UJA Missions to Israel where she and her husband Melvin helped fund the creation of Givat Katznelson in Netanya while serving as a lifelong member of Hadassah, UJA, JNF, Beth Adam and Wise Temple. Her father's words guided her life: "The people you will meet along the way—no matter what color they are, what language they speak, or where they come from—those are the people who will make your life." Zell lived this philosophy daily, opening both her home, her heart and her kitchen to all. One mantra remained constant throughout her life -- "Each day is a gift, and we open the package the best we can." A funeral service for Zell will take place on Sunday, September 21 at 12:30PM at Weil Kahn Funeral Home (8350 Cornell Rd. Cincinnati, OH. 45249) where guests will be received from 11:30AM until the time of service. Burial will follow immediately at United Jewish Cemetery Montgomery (7885 Ivygate Ln. Cincinnati, OH. 45242). In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Cincinnati, Ohio https://donate.bigsforkids.org/checkout/1984 and The Cincinnati Opera Company https://my.cincinnatiopera.org/donate/i/hon-mem

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Zelma "Zell" Jeanne Schulman

February 21, 1928 - September 17, 2025