Key Facts
Career & Education
About
Sarah Adelson (née Tonkin) was a Ukrainian-born Lithuanian Jewish immigrant who arrived in the United States and settled in Boston, Massachusetts. She immigrated with her family during a period of upheaval for Jewish communities in Eastern Europe. In Boston, she worked primarily as a bookkeeper but demonstrated remarkable resourcefulness by taking on various odd jobs to support her household during the Great Depression and other financial hardships, while also serving as a homemaker. Her determination and practical skills were instrumental in providing stability for her family. Married to Arthur Adelson, a Lithuanian Jewish immigrant and taxi driver, Sarah raised several children, including her son Sheldon Gary Adelson, who would later become a billionaire casino magnate and philanthropist. The family's modest circumstances in the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston shaped Sheldon's early life, with Sarah's influence evident in his accounts of her industriousness and resilience. She navigated the challenges of assimilation as an immigrant, contributing to the cultural and economic fabric of Boston's Jewish community. Sarah Adelson passed away in 1982, leaving a legacy of perseverance that echoed in her son's success. Her story reflects the broader narrative of Jewish immigration to America in the early 20th century, marked by hard work and adaptation to new opportunities and obstacles.