Remembering Sally Clayman: A Life Rooted in Family, Community, and Service
Sally Clayman, a proud lifelong resident of Omaha, passed away in February 2024. Sally grew up in the Benson area, graduated from Benson High, and later earned a BA in English from UNO. She had two children: Cindy Clayman-Morris, of blessed memory, and Jeff Clayman, who lives in Denver. She was also the beloved grandmother of six and great-grandmother of two.
Sally created three charitable funds through the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation in honor of her aunt and uncle, Lillian Keiser-Stoms and David Keiser. The Lillian Keiser-Stoms Educational Fund provides scholarships for single Jewish custodial parents. The David Keiser & Lillian Keiser-Stoms Foundation Education Fund supports university scholarships for Jewish young adults. Finally, the David Keiser & Lillian Keiser-Stoms Endowment for Academic Excellence grants college scholarships to Jewish youth based on scholastic achievement and dedication to the Jewish community.
Sally began her career as an advertising copywriter at Bozell & Jacobs, where she launched memorable campaigns, including one for “Storzette,” an 8-ounce beer marketed to women. She often recalled meeting Elvis Presley and Johnny Carson during her early years in Omaha. Despite opportunities to work in broadcast television in New York, Sally chose to stay in Omaha, where she met her husband Albert, married, and started a family.
After their children were born, Sally dedicated herself to their upbringing and later earned an MS in Speech Pathology from UNO. For years, she served as a speech therapist for Education Service Unit #3, supporting children in rural Nebraska with vital speech and hearing services. Her work profoundly impacted her young clients, many of whom would have faced substantial social and educational challenges without her assistance. Later, Sally worked in genetic research coordination at Boystown, driven by a keen interest in genetics and genetic diseases.
Sally was married to Albert Clayman for 25 years, until his untimely death on their 25th wedding anniversary in May 1983. After Albert’s passing, Sally transitioned to a career in property insurance administration until her retirement.
Throughout her life, Sally loved to walk, play tennis, and participate in bridge games with close friends Maxine Simons, Mona Crandell, and Blanche Wise. In her retirement, she devoted extraordinary care to her daughter Cindy, who lived with chronic illness throughout her adult life. Though Sally didn’t actively volunteer, she supported numerous community organizations, including Beth El, Beth Israel, the Jewish Federation, and the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Her philanthropic spirit and values were inspired by David Keiser and Lillian Keiser-Stoms and became a cornerstone of her life’s legacy.
