Isabelle W. Goldenson, 84; Helped Establish United Cerebral Palsy

Isabelle Weinstein Goldenson, who helped found United Cerebral Palsy, has died. She was 84.

The widow of ABC founder and chairman Leonard H. Goldenson died of natural causes Feb. 21 at her home in Sarasota, Fla.

Five years after the Goldensons’ daughter, Genise, was born with cerebral palsy in 1943, they and another couple joined forces to form the organization to help families affected by the developmental disorder, which results from damage to the central nervous system.

United Cerebral Palsy quickly grew into a national organization, which now serves more than 30,000 children and adults with disabilities and their families. Isabelle Goldenson also helped form the UCP Research Foundation, which was established to help discover and eliminate the causes of cerebral palsy.

In 1994, the Goldensons pledged $60 million to Harvard Medical School to underwrite research in neurological diseases and other aspects of brain research, particularly in genetics.

Genise died in 1973; Leonard, in 1999. Isabelle Goldenson is survived by two daughters, Loreen Arbus and Maxine Goldenson, both of Los Angeles; and a grandson.