BALTIMORE, MD.—She was more than a legend, she was an institution. The mother of two young children, she decided to return to work and began a career as a secretary for a flooring distributor that spanned more than three decades. Helene Eisner endeared herself to the company—Elias Wilf Corp.—and to the industry, where her friends were legion. After her retirement, she suffered from Alzheimer’s disease and succumbed to the ailment on Feb. 8 in a home here. She was 78.
Born and bred in Baltimore, Helene Hankin met and married Allen Eisner—now Dr. Eisner—and they raised two children. As the children grew, so did her yearning for a business career. In 1966, she went to work for the Elias Wilf Corp. of Owings Mills, Md., as secretary to its president, Arnold Cohen. It didn’t take her too long to learn the business, get to know the people and understand the industry. She was so efficient and effective that she was promoted to assistant to the president.
Wilf maintained showrooms in Baltimore, Atlanta and Philadelphia and Eisner reigned over all three. She treated salespeople and executives alike, with respect, good humor and honesty. She eventually became the face of Elias Wilf and some would say she already was the heart. After 32 years with the company, she retired in 1998.
“Everyone has a Helene story and all loved and appreciated her. She will be missed but never forgotten,” said Arnold Cohen, Wilf’s chairman of the board.
Survivors include her husband, Allen; son, Michael, of Reisterstown, Md.; daughter, Barbara Fried, of Jericho, N.Y.; daughter-in-law, Victoria Eisner, and son-in-law, Ivan Fried, and grandchildren, Jason and Dana Fried and Rita Eisner.