Estelle Glatt Sosland died April 16, 2021, at the age of 95. She was born in Kansas City, MO on May 16, 1925, to the late Meyer and Bertha Glatt.
Estelle graduated from Notre Dame de Sion in 1942 and then attended Smith College, where she graduated in 1946. Between her final exams and graduation, she married her lifelong love, Morton I. Sosland. They were married for nearly 73 years, until Morton’s passing in 2019.
Estelle cared deeply about her community and gave her time to many charitable institutions. In the late 50’s and early 60’s she gave her time to what was then the Sales and Rental Department of The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. The Sales and Rental allowed people to bring artworks into their homes for a small fee. This helped to support the museum and give the public access to enjoying works of art. Later she became a university trustee of the Nelson-Atkins and then became its first female chairman, serving proudly during the major renovation, which included the construction of the Bloch building.
She and Morton were major benefactors of the museum, donating a collection of their Native American art. In 2019, in honor of their dedication to the museum, the Hall Family Foundation commissioned the Andy Goldsworthy “Walking Wall.”
Estelle served on the local board of Young Audiences and was then invited to become a member of its national board, where she also served for a number of years. She was also on the boards of the Kansas City Symphony, Kansas City Art Institute, the American Crafts Council, Menorah Medical Center, Sosland Family Foundation, the Oppenstein Brothers Foundation Disbursement Committee and the board of Sunset Hill School. In 2014, Mayor Sly James proclaimed September 19 Morton and Estelle Sosland day for their contributions to Kansas City.
Estelle was known for her kind, thoughtful and generous nature by many who knew her. She will be remembered as the loving mother of Amy Sosland Brown (1948-2019), Elizabeth J. Sosland and Charles S. Sosland (Jeanne) and the adoring grandmother of Andrew Russell Brown (Kate), Meyer Joseph (Mindy), Sarah (Benton), and Sophie Ann (Ryan) and seven great grandchildren. The family requests no flowers. Donations may be made to Young Audiences or the Kansas City Symphony.
Private family services will be held at Mt. Carmel Cemetery. To watch graveside services please email for Zoom information. (Arr: The Louis Memorial Chapel 816-361-5211)
