Introduction

A generation ago, Charles Gyllenhaal wrote a vivid and compelling account of the family's upbringing a century ago. Here is the next chapter of the Gyllenhaal story: How the children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of Leonard and Philo Gyllenhaal are living their lives, raising their own families and—as Uncle Charles put it—“taking on the world.”

Charles' memoir, "The Gyllenhaals of Alnwick Road" that is reproduced here, tells how he and his six brothers and sisters grew up in their big stone house, survived tragedy, overcame poverty, and found their footing during one of the most dramatic times in modern history. This updated collection of stories and genealogy follow our expanding family through another unparalleled era—one marked by great change, mobility, and advances in everything from technology and science to the culture, art and religion. The greater Gyllenhaal family, now numbering more than 130, ranging in age from one to nearly 100 years old, reflects these times at every turn.

Today, Gyllenhaals and spouses are scattered across the country, from Pennsylvania to California, Florida to Massachusetts. Our pursuits cover the gamut: We're teachers and scientists, doctors and lawyers, actors and authors, accountants and archeologists, soldiers, nurses, journalists, musicians, designers, realtors, and football coaches. 

Our individual stories are just as wide-ranging. One of us climbed to the top of an Egyptian pyramid while on an archaeological dig; another traded the classroom for the racetrack; one wing of the family turned our double-voweled, tongue-twisting moniker into a household name; another helped invent synthetic drugs that have saved lives.

Elsewhere in these pages you'll find the full history of the family going back centuries, which is a rich trove as well. We're all familiar with our Swedish nobility, but did you know our ancestry reaches back to a handful of other kings, the first governor of Georgia who was murdered in office, and soldiers who fought on both sides of both the American Revolution and the Civil War? If any of these are unfamiliar, keep reading. You’ll find these and many more stories every Gyllenhaal will want to know.

The tools of genealogy have expanded almost as quickly as the family itself. Today’s DNA resources, online databases, and digital archives open windows onto centuries of our lineage. Edward Gyllenhaal built a searchable family database that traces some 2,700 Gyllenhaals back to the Swedish decree of 1652 and beyond. In 2012, Maggie Gyllenhaal appeared on the PBS program Finding Your Roots, which researched and created a sprawling family tree extending to nearly a thousand years ago. 

This project took shape after Marion Gyllenhaal died last year. She was the last of the Alnwick Road Gyllenhaals and spouses to pass away. Marion's son Dennis began gathering the full family genealogies—a vast tapestry of births, marriages, careers, losses, and long and too-short lives. He asked Anders Gyllenhaal to help weave these stories together into a narrative.

As our family has grown and spread far and wide, staying connected has become difficult for many of us. That is part of the reason for sharing these stories. We hope it will be a living document, one that grows with the family into the future. We invite you to add your own stories, correct or expand the record that at this point remains incomplete, and put in your spouses, newborns, and landmarks of our evolving ranks.

We share a lineage and history that shape who we are. Just as Uncle Charles wanted his writings to do, we hope these pages will allow us—and the Gyllenhaals to come—to understand and celebrate our story.

What follows are passages on each of the seven children of Leonard and Philo and their children and grandchildren, along with genealogies, stories and photos. This begins with Harriet, the oldest, and ends with Eileen, the youngest. At the end, you'll find the genealogy of the complete Gyllenhaal family. Also, note the links at the top of this page to separate sections on "Earning Nobility;'' "The Gyllenhaals of Alnwick Road;"  "Meet Your Ancestors;'' Ed Gyllenhaals' extensive family database of Gyllenhaals in both the U.S. and Sweden; and links you can use to send in additions, corrections, thoughts and suggestions. 

Harriet Gyllenhaal Engelhardt: A Life in Music

Harriet was born on November 26, 1915, in an apartment at the Hicks’ house. She took to the piano early in life, and one Christmas she received a used Henry F. Miller grand piano—an instrument her father had found for her and one she always treasured.

She began lessons with Hubert Synnestvedt and, while still quite young, became the accompanist for the Academy as well as for the Whittingdon Chorus. Her talent soon drew wider attention. Sylvan Levin, assistant to the legendary Leopold Stokowski, noticed her potential and trained her intensively for two years. Harriet went on to spend three summers at the Juilliard School of Music, working as a waitress on the side to earn spending money. She eventually received her diploma from Juilliard, among the finest music schools in the country.

Harriet built a distinguished career at the Academy of Vocal Arts, where she worked for 45 years. For more than four decades, she accompanied countless auditions for the Philadelphia Orchestra under Eugene Ormandy, as well as regional auditions for the Metropolitan Opera. Many of the younger Gyllenhaals will always remember her bringing those talents to the family Christmas party to carry them through the carole singing. 

On August 2, 1947, she married Edward Engelhardt.

Edward Louis Engelhardt

Edward Louis Engelhardt was born on June 22, 1919, in Paramaribo, Republic of Suriname, where his father worked as a mining engineer. He grew up with two siblings, Jean and Jon. In 1925 the family moved to Philadelphia and eventually settled in Narberth.

Edward attended Radnor, then Lower Merion High School, graduating in 1937. He went on to Haverford College, earning a degree in chemistry in 1941. During World War II, he continued his studies at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, receiving a Ph.D. in chemistry in 1944.

His early career was with Sharp & Dohme, where he helped develop five major sulfa drugs, synthetic medications that treat an array of serious illnesses. It was during these years that he met Harriet at the opera, sparking the friendship that led to their marriage in 1947. Sharp & Dohme later became Merck, Sharp & Dohme, and eventually Merck. Edward rose to Senior Director and later Distinguished Senior Scientist, retiring in 1988 after 45 years with the company.

Children, Grand Children and Great Grand Children of Harriet and Ed

• Harriet Gyllenhaal (11/26/1915-9/8/2004)

(Spouse): Edward Louis Engelhardt (6/22/1919- 1/11/2005) married 8/2/1947

• Nancy Jane Engelhardt (1952) married 1975

Sp. David Metroka (1952)

• Daniel Metroka (1979) married 2002

Sp. Jennifer Rieger (1979)

• Jack Metroka (2011)

• Henry Metroka (2013)

• Charlie Metroka (2014)

• Nicholas Metroka (1981) married 2012

Sp. Lori Blickley (1983)

• Lydia Metroka (2016)

• Maxwell Metroka (2018)

• Nico Metroka (2020)

• Johnathan Metroka (1983) married 2018

Sp. Rachael Smith (1990)

• Nadia Metroka (1986) 

• Mara Metroka (1991) married 2023

Sp. Curtis Olson (1990)

NANCY JANE ENGELHARDT was born in1952. She graduated from Wissahickon High School in 1970 in Ambler, PA. She attended Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music from 1970 to 1972.  She attended Montclair State University in New Jersey from 1973 to 1975 and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Music. She then graduated from Temple University in 1988 with a master’s in musical education. 

She worked as a music therapist at Woodhaven Center from 1975 to 1978. She was an instrumental music teacher at Bryn Athyn Elementary School and the Academy of the New Church between 1991 and 2021.

 She met David Metroka at Temple University in 1973 when they were taking a class together. They were married in 1975. 

Sp. DAVID METROKA was born in 1952 as well. He graduated from Temple University School of Dentistry in 1977. He has been in private practice and has also worked at St. Christopher’s Hospital until 2023. They have 5 children.

DANIEL METROKA was born in 1979. He graduated from the Academy of the New Church in 1998. He attended Cornell University from 1998 until 2002. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, then attended the University of Virginia Law School. He works as a Corporate Lawyer in Philadelphia.

Sp: JENNIFER RIEGER was also born in 1979. They were married in 2002. She attended the University of Binghamton in New York and worked for the government prior to starting a family. She has been a stay-at-home mother since starting a family. Their children are:

• Jack Metroka (2011)

• Henry Metroka (2013)

• Charlie Metroka (2014)

NICHOLAS METROKA was born in 1981. He graduated from the Academy of the New Church in 2000.  He attended Temple University and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts. He works in the music industry.

Sp. LORI BLICKLEY was born in 1983. They were married in 2012. Lori attended Pace University School of Nursing and works as a school nurse in New Jersey. They have 3 children:

• Lydia Metroka (2016)

• Maxwell Metroka (2018)

• Nico Metroka (2020)

JOHNATHAN METROKA was born in 1983. He graduated from the Academy of the New Church in 2002. He attended the University of Delaware and the Institute of World Politics and has a master’s degree. He works for the Department of Defense.

Sp. RACHAEL SMITH Born ? They were married on 7/3/__. She attended the University of Tampa and works for the government.

NADIA METROKA was born in 1986. She graduated from the Academy of the New Church in 2005. She attended St. Thomas University in Florida for both under-graduate and Law School. She is an attorney in South Florida.

MARA METROKA was born in 1991. She graduated from the Academy of the New Church in 2010. She attended James Madison University in Virginia, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in 2014. She went on to receive a master’s from American University in Washington, D.C. She works for a Wellness and Healthcare company. 

Sp. CURTIS OLSON was born in 1990. They were married in 2023. He attended college in Ohio and works in finance.

Leonard Efriam Gyllenhaal Jr.: Dedicated family man

Leonard was born on September 19, 1917, in an apartment in the Hicks’ house—where his parents first lived after their marriage in 1915. He arrived in dramatic fashion: Miss Phoebe Bostock delivered him when the doctor failed to arrive in time.

In high school, Leonard distinguished himself both academically and athletically. He played end on the football team, was a key member of the relay team, and served as president of the Forum, the weekly all-school assembly. In 1933, when Ruth Davis's family moved into a house on Second Street Pike, Leonard and Ruth met and soon began dating. 

After graduating from high school, Leonard attended the Academy College for one year before transferring to the University of Pennsylvania in 1936. During the summers, he worked as a contractor during the construction of Glencairn. He graduated with honors in 1940.

Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, Leonard volunteered for the Seabees. In 1943 he was sent to Labrador to help build an airfield, and later served as a lieutenant in New Guinea and the Philippines, constructing airstrips for the Allied Air Forces.

After the war, Leonard returned to Bryn Athyn and joined the Academy staff, working in the treasurer’s office. In 1952 he was appointed Treasurer of both the Academy and the General Church. He was elected Vice President of the Academy in 1978, and in 1982 became the Development Officer for the Academy and the General Church. Toward the end of his 38 years of service, he and Ruth traveled extensively to visit remote church centers, including groups in Africa.

At home, Leonard was an avid gardener and devoted grandfather. He built a greenhouse onto the main house and raised African violets with great care. He put a backyard pool that became the playground for his grandchildren, and over time was the center of many gatherings for his and the wider Gyllenhaal family. 

Ruth Davis Gyllenhaal

Ruth Davis was born on February 4, 1917, in Middleport, Ohio, one of five children. In 1919, her family moved to Los Angeles. When the Depression struck in 1929, they lost both their home and their business. The family relocated to Bryn Athyn, making the cross-country trip in a Model A Ford with a rumble seat.

Ruth attended the Academy of the New Church, graduating in 1935. She studied at Bryn Athyn College for several years and later completed a year of art school in Philadelphia.

On April 19, 1941, Ruth and Leonard were married. Their first child, Susan, was born a year and a half later, followed by Lenny and Martha. In addition to raising four children, Ruth devoted countless hours to volunteer work for the Bryn Athyn Church, serving on nearly every committee in the community.

In the later years of Leonard’s career, Ruth traveled widely with him to support his work. After his death, she turned her focus to painting, gardening, and helping with church and society events. The last twelve years of her life were affected by Parkinson’s disease, which gradually limited her activities. Her daughter Martha cared for her throughout that time.

Children Grand Children and Great Grand Children of Leonard and Ruth

• Leonard Efraim Gyllenhaal Jr. (9/13/1917-2/4/1984)

Sp. Ruth Louise Davis (2/4/17-11/12/2007) married 4/19/1941

• Susan Gyllenhaal (9/23/1942- ) married 6/24/1972

Sp. Richard Eugene Farmer (11/6/1946-1/30/2016)

• Kerry C Farmer (1968)

• Brian Kelly Farmer (1970)

Sp. Melissa Combs

• Meredith Farmer (1974)

• Stewart Farmer (1977)

Sp. Kirstine Medley

--Robin Celeste Farmer (date born)

• Leonard Anders Gyllenhaal (1944)

Sp. Martha Elizabeth (Marci) Cavagnaro (b. 10/42/1946, d. 6/13/2025) Married 1967

• Leonard Deane Gyllenhaal (1968) married 1995

Sp. Rosa Maria Clarimundo (1968)

• Karina Gyllenhaal (2003)

• Ava Gyllenhaal (2006)

• Noel Gyllenhaal (1969) married 2000

Sp. Ronna J. Shain 

• Ethan Lee Gyllenhaal (2002)

• Brooke Lauren Gyllenhaal (2004)

• Blair Baker Gyllenhaal (1980)

• Amanda Ruth Gyllenhaal (1983)

• Martha Gyllenhaal (1947)

SUSAN GYLLENHAAL FARMER was born on 9/23/1942 in Bryn Athyn, PA. She earned a B.A. from Grove City College and was a secretary for the Bryn Athyn Church Elementary School. She passed away on 4/7/2001 from cancer.

Sp. RICHARD EUGENE FARMER was born on 11/6/1946 in Hamilton, Ohio and died on 1/30/2016 in New Market, Alabama. They married on 6/24/1972 and later divorced. 

Richard had two children from a previous marriage:

KERRY C. FARMER was born in 1982.

Sp. PATTI

BRIAN KELLY FARMER was born in 1970.

Sp. MELISSA COMBS

Richard and Susan had two children:

MEREDITH FARMER was born in 1974

STEWART FARMER was born in 1977

Sp. KRISTINE MEDLEY

daughter ROBIN CELESTE FARMER

LEONARD ANDERS GYLLENHAAL was born in 1944. He went to elementary school and high school in Bryn Athyn and graduated in 1963. During High School he was a champion wrestler and was offered a scholarship at Lehigh, but his father had him turn it down as he felt it would interfere with his studies.

He attended Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa., for two years then took a year off and went to New England College in Heniker, NH. During that time, he met Marci when she and a friend got their car stuck in a snow drift. Lenny and a friend stopped to help, and someone called for a tow truck. Marci and her friend did not have enough money to pay for the tow truck, so Lenny and his friend used the money they were going to spend on beer to pay for the tow. 

A week later Marci called and asked him out on a date. After his year in Heniker he returned to Lehigh and completed his studies, graduating in January 1967 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a minor in finance. 

He originally worked as a vice president, corporate bond trader and manager for a bank in Philadelphia. He married Martha Elizabeth Cavagnaro (Marci) on 8/26/1967. Following his graduation from Lehigh, he worked as a bond salesman for a Philadelphia bank. 

Over the years, he has worked for many companies, the most notable companies were Spear, Leeds and Kellogg, which was acquired by Goldman Sachs in 2000. He retired in 2010. He lives in Gloucester, MA. His hobbies include golf. He does volunteer work for the Academy of the New Church, the Bryn Athyn zoning board and the Gloucester zoning board.

Sp. MARTHA ELIZABETH CAVAGNARO was born on 10/22/1946 in Dorchester, MA.  Called Marci, she graduated from Hingham High School in 1963 and attended Colby-Sawyer College in New London, NH. She graduated in 1966 and worked for Blue Cross Blue Shield in Boston as a claim examiner. This happened during the time that Medicare was starting, and she reviewed a lot of applications for Medicare. When they were married in 1967, she transferred to the Glenside office near Philadelphia. She worked there until 1968 when Deane was born. After that, she became a full-time mother to their five children. Marci died on April 3, 2025 after a long illness.

LEONARD DEANE GYLLENHAAL was born in 1968. He attended Bryn Athyn Elementary school and the Academy of the New Church, graduating in 1986.

          He graduated from Bentley University in 1990, where he played lacrosse. He  earned an MBA from Babson College in 2001 and works in               Financial Services. He married Rosa Maria Clarimundo in Gloucester, MA in 1995.

Sp. ROSA MARIA CLARIMUNDO was born in 1968, attended Bishop Fenwick H.S. in Peabody, MA, and graduated from Bentley University. She is a Certified Public Accountant and works for EF Education (which happens to be a Swedish Company).

.

KARINA GYLLENHAAL was born in 2003 and graduated from Bishop Fenwick high school in Peabody, MA,  and Vassar College (Political Science & Spanish) in Poughkeepsie N.Y, and was a collegiate Lacrosse Player.

AVA GYLLENHAAL was born in 2006 and graduated from Bishop Fenwick High School in Peabody, MA, and Marist University in Poughkeepsie N.Y. with a degree in Communications & Fashion Design.

NOEL BENJAMIN GYLLENHAAL was born in 1969 and attended Bryn Athyn Elementary school and the Academy of the New Church. He married Ronna J. Shain in 2000 and they have two children.

Sp. RONNA J. SHAIN was born in  ( ). 

ETHAN LEE GYLLENHAAL was born in 2002.

BROOKE LAUREN GYLLENHAAL was born in 2004.

BLAIR BAKER GYLLENHAAL was born in 1980 and attended elementary school in Bryn Athyn and graduated from the Academy of the New Church. He works for Constant Contact US, a company that designs email services, web pages, integrating AI programs and distribution software

Sp. PENELOPE 

AMANDA RUTH GYLLENHAAL was born in 1984, attended elementary school in Bryn Athyn and graduated from the Academy of the New Church in 2002. She graducated from the University of Rhode Island with a degree in Communications and Journalism. She met her husband, Thomas Valanzola in college.

Sp. THOMAS VALANZOLA was born in 1984 and graduated from North Warren High School in 2002. He graduated from the University of Rhode Island with a degree in Economics and Management Information. He works for Microsoft Compliance and previously worked with Nuance (Dragonware).

MARTHA GYLLENHAAL was born in 1947 and attended Bryn Athyn Elementary School and graduated from the Academy of the New Church in 1966. After High School she spent a year in the Academy of the New Church Junior College. Following that year she attended Carnegie Mellon University between 1967 and 1971, graduating with a BFA in Painting. 

During the Junior year (1967-70) she studied abroad in Rome at the Tyler School of Art. From 1971 to 1973 she did graduate work at Tyler School of Art at Temple University in Philadelphia, during that time (1971-72) She taught art in the Bryn Athyn Elementary School to 3rd-5th grades.

From 1973 through 1996 Martha taught at the Academy of the New Church Secondary Schools, teaching design, art appreciation, drawing and painting. During that time, she worked on her master’s at Temple University (1991-94). She received a Master of Art in Art History in 1994.  

Also during that time, she joined the Core Faculty at Bryn Athyn College teaching art history, metals, drawing and painting, as well as integrating art into the elementary school curriculum. She worked in this capacity between 1983 and 2019. In 2019 she switched to adjunct faculty at Bryn Athyn College where she continues to date.

Martha has had numerous publications, commissions, presentations and exhibitions.  In addition to all of this, she cared for her mother during the last years of her life, watches her great niece while her nephew and wife work. Like her father, Martha is a dedicated gardener who expanded and cared for the wondrous garden in the yard of the family's ancestral home on Alnwick Road..

Charles Pendleton Gyllenhaal: Family chronicler

Charles was born on April 28, 1919, the first of the Gyllenhaal children to be born in the family home on Alnwick Road. One of his earliest memories was making a giant spider web in the nursery using Granny’s thread— an episode still fondly remembered in family lore. He attended Bryn Athyn Elementary School and later the Academy of the New Church.

In 1940, Charles spent much of the year working for the Macon Telegraph, the newspaper at the center of the Pendleton family in Georgia. He also served on the volunteer fire company and was on duty the night De Charms Hall burned to the ground, a stunning tragedy that the Gyllenhaals talked about through the years.

Like all the Gyllenhaal boys, Charles played football in high school. During the summer of 1937, he and Bruce Glenn launched a monthly newspaper called The Academian, with Charles serving as its first editor. He graduated from the Academy in 1938.

The year before entering the University of Pennsylvania, Charles returned to the Macon Telegraph, this time as an apprentice reporter. He lived frugally on $20 a month sent by Granny. His reporting experience helped him secure a position at Penn as a copy boy at the Philadelphia Bulletin. Later in college, he became editor-in-chief of the Daily Pennsylvanian.

After Pearl Harbor, Charles was temporarily called into the State Guard, where he and others were assigned to guard bridges against potential saboteurs. He received a college deferment through 1942, but upon graduating that June, he reported to his draft board and was sent to basic training. He was assigned to Sioux City, South Dakota, to train as a radio operator and then transferred to Idaho in February 1943 for additional training as both radio operator and gunner on B-17s. 

In March, he learned that he could not be sent overseas because he had failed the vision test. Instead, he was transferred to a short-lived French language program at Kenyon College in Ohio. When that program was abandoned, Charles joined a small Signal Corps unit that was shipped to Papua, New Guinea. After several weeks, the group moved on to Leyte in the Philippines. He served there and later in Manila until V-J Day. In early December 1945, he boarded the SS Monterey, arriving in San Francisco on Christmas Eve.

After the war, Charles began a long career as a sales manager for General Electric, selling to distributors from the 1950s through the early 1980s. In 1960, he and his family moved to Ohio. He had a remarkable gift for writing clear, plain English and authored the history of the Gyllenhaal family that is an integral part of this project. He and his wife, Diantha, also wrote and circulated a newsletter for their church in northern Ohio Charles married Diantha Davis on September 27, 1947.

Diantha Davis Gyllenhaal

Diantha was born on March 11, 1925, in Bryn Athyn. She attended Bryn Athyn Elementary School and the Academy of the New Church before training as a secretary at the Katherine Gibbs School in New York.

When the family lived in Ohio, Diantha was a stay-at-home mother who was deeply involved in the community. She volunteered at the local library and played piano for church services. Her favorite hobbies were reading and crafts, especially needlepoint. She passed away on April 15, 2000, in Glenview, Illinois.

Children Grand Children and Great Grand Children of Charles and Dinah

• Charles Pendleton Gyllenhaal (4/281919-7/10/1989)

Sp. Diantha Davis (b. 5/11/1925; d. 4/15/2000); married 9/27/1947

• Charlotte Gyllenhaal Davis (1948) 

Sp. Todd McLin Davis. married 1976

• Claire Gyllenhaal Davis (1978) married 2000

Sp. Louis Kaage IV (1978)

• Aellah Mohn “Ella” Kaage (2000)

• Barjone Simone Kaage (2004)

• Irvin Louis Ragnar Kaage (2007)

• Thurlow Archer Kaage (2013)

   Sp. Michael T Huft (1949) married 1985

• Carolyn Elizabeth Huft (1987) married 2014

 Sp. Alex Watson Tidball (1986)

Enno Watson Tidball (2018)

• Eric Davis Gyllenhaal (1950) married 1991

Sp. Gail Susan Fisher (1955)

• Ethan Fisher Gyllenhaal (1995)

• Aaron Fisher Gyllenhaal (1996)

• Constance Gyllenhaal (1953) married 1974

Sp. Willard Dale Smith (1952)

• Tama Charlotte Smith (1976) married 2003

Sp. Wade Reagan Heinrichs

• Jase Dylan Heinrichs (2003)

• Hayden Cole Heinrichs (2005)

• Nathan Joel Smith (1977)

• Logan Dale Smith (b. 4/2/1980, d. 11/15/2010)

• Cathlin Adele Smith (1982) married 2008

Sp. Kevin Eli Junge (1982)

• Tu Jordan Junge (2010)

• Julie Jane Junge (2012)

• Kurt Pendleton Gyllenhaal (b. 12/20/1954; d. 1/17/1989) married 7/23/1985

Sp. Dulee Lee (1955)

•   Kelly Anne Gyllenhaal (1986) married 2017

Sp. Graham Burseth

• Jack Curtis Burseth (2017)

• Graham Christopher Burseth (2021)

• Randall Lee Gyllenhaal (1987) married 2019

Sp. Leigh Lesniak

• Noah Lee Gyllenhaal (2022)

• Lilah Leigh Gyllenhaal (2024)

• Charles Edward Gyllenhaal (1960) married 1985

Sp. Kirsten Elizabeth Hansen (1962)

• David Nil Gyllenhaal (1989) married 2013

Sp. Robin Wright

• Rebecca Christina Gyllenhaal (1993) married 2019

Sp. Cadin McQueen

• Annika Lucia Gyllenhaal (1998)

CHARLOTTE GYLLENHAAL was born in 1948. She has two BS degrees and an MS degree from Ohio State as well as a PhD from the University of Alabama. She worked in botany research and computer science at the University of Chicago.

Sp. TODD MCLIN DAVIS was born on (  ). They were married in 1976 in Bryn Athyn.

CLAIRE GYLLENHAAL DAVIS was born in 1978 in Gaithersberg, MD. She married Irwin Louis Kaage IV on 7/22/2000 in Oak Park, IL

Sp. IRWIN LOUIS KAAGE IV was born in 1978.

AELLAH MOHN KAAGE (ELLA) was born in 2000.

BARJONA SIMONE KAAGE was born in 2004.

IRWIN LOUIS RAGNAR KAAGE was born in 2007.

THURLOW ARCHER KAAGE was born in 2013.

Sp. MICHAEL HUFT was born in 1949. They were married in 1985 in Glenview, IL

CAROLYN ELIZABETH HUFT was born in 1987. 

Sp. ALEX WATSON TIDBALL was born in 1986. They were married on 2014 in Glenview, IL

ENNO WATSON TIDBALL was born in 2018.

ERIC DAVIS GYLLENHAAL was born in 1950, and graduated with a BS from Ohio State and a PhD in paleontology from the University of Chicago. He was the director of the Children’s Museum in Indianapolis, and following his PhD he spent his time digging for fossils in the far west.

Sp. GAIL SUSAN FISHER was born in 1955. Married: 1991, in Starved Rock State Park, IL.

ETHAN FISHER GYLLENHAAL was born in 1995.

AARON FISCHER GYLLENHAAL was born in 1996.

CONSTANCE GYLLENHAAL was born in 1953 and attended the Academy College for two years. She and Willard had a tree care business, where Connie ran the company computer. They moved in 2024 from Glenview to Bryn Athyn and live on Cherry Lane.

Sp. WILLARD DALE SMITH born in 1952  married: 1974.

TAMA CHARLOTTE SMITH was born in 1976.

Sp. WADE REAGAN HEINRICHS.  They married in 2003 in Lafayette, CO.

NATHAN JOEL SMITH was born in 1977.

LOGAN DALE SMITH was born in 1980. He died in 2010 in Glenview, IL.

CATHLIN ADELE SMITH was born in 1982.

Sp. KEVIN ELI JUNGE was born in 1982. They were married in 2008.

KURT PENDLETON GYLLENHAAL was born in 1954 in Abington, Pa. He attended the Academy College and Lorain Community College in Ohio. He was vice president of sales and engineering for a company that provides steering systems for large ships. He was married to Dulee Lee from Korea. They were introduced by a mutual friend when he was there on business. They lived in Cleveland, OH. They had two children, Kelley Anne and Randall Lee. Kurt died in 1989.

Sp. DULEE LEE was born in 1955 in South Korea. They were married in 1985 in Seoul, South Korea.

KELLY ANNE GYLLENHAAL was born in 1986. She married Brian Graham Burseth in 2017 in Glenview, IL.

Sp. BRIAN GRAHAM BURSETH 

RANDALL LEE GYLLENHAAL was born in 1987 in Parma, Ohio. He graduated from Elon University in North Carolina, in 2010. He interned at ABC World News in Washington, DC (May to August 2008). He interned at WTTG Fox5 (May 2009 to Aug 2009). He interned at Phoenix 14 News as a multimedia journalist (September 2006 to May 2010). Randy worked at Hearst Television for over four years followed by NBC News for nine years and has worked at NBC Chicago since February of 2024. He married Leigh Lesniak in 2019.

Sp. LEIGH LESNIAK 

They have two children: Noah Lee Gyllenhaal (2022) and Lilah Leigh Gyllenhaal (2024).

CHARLES EDWARD GYLLENHAAL was born in 1961 and went to elementary school, middle school and the first two years of high school in Bay Village, Oh. He graduated from high school from the Academy of the New Church in 1979. He graduated from Bryn Athyn College with a degree in religion. 

At the University of Pennsylvania, Ed earned a Master of Arts in Egyptology with an emphasis on Egyptian language and literature, including the phrases of language written in hieroglyphics.  While at Penn, Ed studied mainly at the Museum of Archeology and Anthropology. He met Kirsten in 1982 when they were both attending Bryn Athyn College. They were married in 1985 in Bryn Athyn. 

In 1987, Edward was hired as a curator of the Glencairn Museum, where he still works full-time. He was part of the Penn Museum team for three different archeological expeditions in Egypt, where he served as an epigrapher (someone who copied tomb inscriptions and decorations). 

In 1995, he and group of colleagues were given permission to scale the great pyramid of Khufu, which he did despite his fear of heights. His responsibilities at Glencairn Museum have included research, publication and education. For 23 years he also lectured at Bryn Athyn College on Biblical Hebrew, New Testament Greek, history of the Ancient Near East, introductory art history, Ancient Egyptian art and architecture.

Sp. KIRSTEN ELIZABETH HANSEN was born in 1962 and attended elementary school at the Carmel Church School and high school at Cameron Heights Collegiate, both of which are in Kitchener, Ontario. She went to Bryn Athyn College.

After the birth of their first child, Kirsten was a part-time administrator for the Swedenborg Scientific Association for many years. Later she worked for the Glencairn Museum as a researcher, writer and digital content specialist. She was responsible for editing research and writing and editing for the curatorial department. She was also responsible for editing and publication of all museum website content, museum entries on Google Arts and Culture and the Glencairn Museum News. She also leads highly specialized tours and programs as requested by the director.

Together, they co-authored a book in the Images of America series, The Bryn Athyn Historic District, published in 2011. 

They have three children:

DAVID NILS GYLLENHAAL was born in 1989 and attended Bryn Athyn Elementary School and the Academy of the New Church, graduating in 2008. He attended Bryn Athyn College, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in history in 2012. He attended Oxford University in England, receiving a Master of Arts in Byzantine Studies in 2015. He earned a PhD in History from Princeton University in 2022. He works as a research associate at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, N.J.

He met Robin Wright while at Bryn Athyn College and they were married in  2013 in Bryn Athyn.

Sp. ROBIN WRIGHT

REBECCA CHRISTINA GYLLENHAAL was born in 1993 and attended Bryn Athyn Elementary School and the Academy of the New Church, graduating in 2011. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Bryn Athyn College in 2015. She married Cadin McQueen in 2019 in Bryn Athyn. She is a writer and editor.

Sp. CADIN MCQUEEN

ANNIKA LUCIA GYLLENHAAL was born in 1998 and attended Bryn Athyn Elementary School and the Academy of the New Church, graduating in 2019. She earned a historic preservation certificate from Bucks Country Community College and a Bachelor of Arts from Southern New Hampshire University in 2024. She is a freelance artist and workshop leader and a part-time retail associate at Home Goods.

Hugh Anders Gyllenhaal: A Too-short Life Fully Lived

Hugh was born on November 4, 1921 in the family home on Alnwick Road. He attended elementary and high school in Bryn Athyn, where he was elected president of his senior class and served as the third editor of The Academian. He entered the University of Pennsylvania in 1939.

While at Penn, Hugh earned income as the campus correspondent for the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin. He also became editor of the Daily Pennsylvanian, the university’s student newspaper. Hugh was a member of ROTC and initially exempt from the draft, but he was called to active duty as an Army officer before completing his degree, finishing it after the war.

In June 1943, Hugh was called up by the U.S. Army and sent to Camp Meade in Maryland, then to Alabama. After about a month, he was returned to the university when the Army determined it wasn’t yet ready to place its ROTC officers. In January 1944, he volunteered for training in the Tank Corps and was sent to Fort Knox for instruction. By August, he was assigned to a tank unit at Camp Campbell, Kentucky, and later transferred to Fort Riley, Kansas.

On December 21, 1944, while home for Christmas, Hugh announced his engagement to Virginia (Ginny) Childs. Not long afterward, he departed for Europe, leading 50 troops overseas. By January he was on the front lines with General Patton during the Battle of the Bulge—one of the decisive turning points of World War II.
By June he had moved into the Sudetenland, and later spent two months in France before being assigned as the acting “mayor” of a small Austrian town. In December he relocated to the Czech border to help open a school. He managed a brief two-week leave on the Riviera before finally returning home in July.

After the war, Hugh worked for several companies as a management consultant. He founded his own firm, The Gyllenhaal Company, which took him around the country advising major corporations from Xerox to U.S. Steel. Hugh died of a heart attack on March 14, 1979, in Meadowbrook, Pennsylvania.

Hugh married Virginia Lowrie Childs on June 14, 1947.

Virginia Lowrie Childs Gyllenhaal: A Beloved Teacher and Grandmother

Ginny was born on March 11, 1924, in Brooklyn, NY, the second-to-youngest child in a family that lived in both Michigan and Bryn Athyn. Early in her career she taught children with physical disabilities, and later worked in an inner-city school in Philadelphia. After she and Hugh married, they lived in several Northeastern cities, including Pittsburgh, Cleveland, New York City and South Orange, N.J., as their family of six children expanded. They returned to Bryn Athyn in the late 1950s so they could be a part of the community and their children could attend Academy schools. 

After Hugh’s death, she returned to school to earn a BA in education. She taught at the Bryn Athyn Elementary School for many years, a beloved teacher to a generation of Bryn Athyn children. Ginny passed away in 2008 after a long battle with cancer.

Children Grand Children and Great Grand Children of Hugh and Virginia

• Hugh Anders Gyllenhaal (11/4/1921-3/14/1979).

Sp. Virginia Lowrie Childs (3/10/1924-2008) married 6/13/1947.

• Stephen Roark Gyllenhaal (1949)

Sp. Naomi Foner Achs (1946) married: 1976 divorced 2009

• Margalit (Maggie) Ruth Gyllenhaal (1977) Married 2009

Sp. Peter Sarsgaard (1971)

• Ramona Sarsgaard (2006)

• Gloria Ray Sarsgaard (2012)

• Jacob (Jake) Benjamin Gyllenhaal (1980)

 Sp. Kathleen Kwai Ching Man (1974) married 2011

• Luke (2014)

• Hugh Anders Gyllenhaal Jr. (1951)

Sp. Beverly Hood Mills (1957)  married 1986

• Samuel Anders Gyllenhaal (1989)

• Leah Grey Gyllenhaal (1990)

Sp. Gabriel Rabben (1987 ) married 2023

• Winnie Leah Rabben (2024)

• Elizabeth Gyllenhaal (1953) married 1987

Sp. William Bennett (1928)

• Max Stafford Gyllenhaal (1958) married 1988 

Sp. Phyllis Azar (1958)

• Molly Gyllenhaal (1989) married 2021

Sp. Beau Mallard (1983)

• Logan Mac Mallard (2024)

• Kathryn Gyllenhaal (1960)

Sp. Umit Celebi (1960) married 

• Adja Olivia Celebi (1999)

• Mavi Elizabeth Celebi (2002)

• Emily Gyllenhaal (1962) married: 1993

Sp. Roger Rosenthal (1958)

• Jonah Bennet Rosenthal (1998)

• Lucian Abe Rosenthal (2003)

STEPHEN ROARK GYLLENHAAL was born in 1949. He grew up in Bryn Athyn, where he graduated from high school.  He graduated from Trinity College in Hartford, CT in 1972, with a degree in English. His mentor at Trinity was the poet Hugh Ogden. Decades later, he also earned a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from World University in Ojai, CA.

Stephen fell in love with movies in college, taking all of the film courses. he then worked on a documentary in Nevada about the Western Shoshone Tribe and followed the crew back to New York where he made his first film, “Exit 10,” which was short listed for the Oscars. That started his career in TV and movies. 

Stephen directed the film Paris Trout, a version of the Pete Dexter novel. Paris Trout was nominated for five Emmy Awards and won a DGA Award. In 1990, he directed Family of Spies, which was nominated for two Golden Globe Awards and an Emmy. In 1992, he directed the feature film Waterland, starring Jeremy Irons and Ethan Hawke. Since 1993, he has focused primarily on directing in television, including an episode of the ABC television series Twin Peaks. He directed his son, Jake, then 14 years old, in an episode of NBC's Homicide: Life on the Street that aired in 1994. He directed several episodes of the CBS series Numbers, The Mentalist, Hawthorne, Army Wives, Rectify, and Blue Bloods. In 2011 Stephen directed Girl Fight which starred Anne Heche and earned a DGA Nomination for outstanding directorial achievement in movies for television.

On the side, Stephen is a poet, published in literary journals such as Prairie Schooner and Nimrod. His first collection of poetry, Claptrap: Notes from Hollywood, was published in June 2006 by Cantara Christopher's New York–based literary small press, Cantarabooks.

In 2013, Stephen directed a backdoor pilot originally titled Sworn to Silence that eventually aired as the Lifetime TV movie An Amish Murder. It stars Neve Campbell as a local police detective who must solve a murder case that involves the Amish Community she was shunned from years ago.

In 1976, he married screenwriter Naomi Foner Achs. They were married for 32 years, until their divorce in 2009. They had two children, Margalit (Maggie) Ruth Gyllenhaal and Jacob Benjamin Gyllenhaal.

MARGALIT RUTH GYLLENHAAL was born in 1977. She graduated from Harvard-Westlake Prep School in Los Angeles in 1995. She graduated from Columbia University New York, where she studied literature and Eastern religions.   

Her first film appearance was in Stephen’s film “Waterland" at the age of 15. She has starred in numerous films, won an Oscar nomination and directed her first film “The Lost Daughter" in 2021. She married Peter Sarsgaard in 2009 in Brindisi, Italy.

Sp. PETER SARSGAARD was born in 1971. His father was in the Air Force, and his family moved more than 12 times as a child. He attended Fairfield College Preparatory School in Connecticut where he became interested in film. He graduated in 1989 and then attended Bard College in New York before transferring to Washington University in St. Louis in 1991 where he started a comedy troupe. He graduated in 1993 with a BA in history. After college he moved to New York and began his acting career in 1995 and has had starring roles in several films, gaining world-wide recognition.

Maggie and Peter have two daughters:

RAMONA SARSGAARD was born in 2006.  She is a college student and an avid environmentalist.

GLORIA RAY SARSGAARD was born in 2012, and is attending school in New York City.

JACOB (JAKE) BENJAMIN GYLLENHAAL was born in 1980 and graduated from Harvard-Westlake Prep School in 1998. He attended Columbia University for two years before becoming a full-time actor. His film debut was at age 11 in in 1991, playing the son of Billy Crystal in “City Slickers.” 

He has starred in numerous movies and stage productions, receiving both Oscar and Tony Award nominations. 

Stephen married Kathleen Kwi Ching Man in 2011, a filmmaker and professor who was a co-producer on Gyllenhaal's 2012 film Grassroots. Their son, Luke Gyllenhaal, was born in 2014.

LUKE GYLLENHAAL was born in 2014. He goes to Wonderland School and his hobbies include guitar, piano, acting, basketball, and singing.

HUGH ANDERS GYLLENHAAL JR. was born in 1951 and graduated from the Academy of the New Church in 1970. He attended Boston University for a year, and then spent the next year traveling the U.S. in Volkswagan bus you could live in. He returned to school in 1973 and earned a BA in journalism from George Washington University in 1975.  

Anders was an investigative reporter at The Miami Herald and went on to become the top editor in newsrooms in Raleigh, Minneapolis, Miami and Washington, DC. He has been active in journalism circles, serving on the board of the Pulitzer Prizes, American Society of Newspaper Editors and Journalism Funding Partners (a new start-up that supports local news across the country).

He met Beverly in Miami in 1995, and they married in 1996. 

BEVERLY HOOD MILLS was born in 1957 and graduated from Burgaw High School, and graduated with a BA in journalism from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her first job was as a reporter at The News & Observer in Raleigh, N.C.,  and she moved to The Miami Herald in 1985, where she worked as a local news reporter, state editor and food and features editor. In 1988, she launched her own syndicated column on parenting, and then started a second column called Desperations Dinners, which eventually led to a series of books, syndicated columns and websites over the next two decades.

As their work slowed down, Beverly and Anders started following birds and photographed and wrote about them in magazines and newspapers.  Their book “A Wing and a Prayer: The Race to Save our Vanishing Birds” was published in 2023 by Simon and Schuster.

They have two children: 

SAMUEL ANDERS GYLLENHAAL was born in 1989 and grew up in Raleigh, N.C. When he was nine  years old, the family moved to Minneapolis, MN. Sam graduated from Edina High School in 2007 in Minneapolis, MN. About that time, the family moved back to Miami. Sam went to Elon College in North Carolina and studied communications and film. 

Sam worked as a video editor after graduation, but since then, he has devoted his time to his music career as a singer songwriter.  He plays around the mid-section of the country and records and produces music. In 2025, Sam started work as a middle school teacher as well. 

LEAH GREY GYLLENHAAL was born in 1990. The family moved to Minneapolis when she was 11 years old, then moved back to Miami in 2007. She graduated from Ransom Everglades High School in 2009 and attended the University of Maryland, where she graduated with a business degree. She liked Nashville after visiting Sam over time, and she moved there and worked in one of Sam’s bands until she decided on a new job as a data analyst with a restaurant company called Toast. She married Gabe Rabben in 2023 in Ashville North Carolina. 

Sp. GABE RABBEN was born in 1987 . They live in Nashville and Gabe is a music producer and musician.

 WINNIE LEAH RABBEN was born in 2024. 

ELIZABETH GYLLENHAAL (LIZA) was born in 1953 and went to Bryn Athyn Elementary School and graduated from the Academy of the New Church High School in 1971. She attended Webster College in St. Louis until 1973 when she transferred to the University of Iowa and earned a Bachelor of Arts from the Writer’s Clinic of the University of Iowa in 1974. Liza moved to New York in 1975 and worked in publishing until 1989 when she started her own advertising agency that dealt with book publishers. She ran this agency for 10 years then sold it. Since that time, she has written and published 10 novels. She published her first non-fiction novel in May of 2025. She met her husband Bill in 1977 when she hired him to do graphic art for her.

Sp. WILLIAM BENNETT (Bill) was born in 1928. They were married in 1987. They have traveled extensively and now live between homes in New York and the Berkshires.

MAX STAFFORD GYLLENHAAL was born in 1958 and attended Bryn Athyn Elementary School and graduated from the Academy of the New Church in 1977. He subsequently got a BA from Kalamazoo College in 1981.  He also attended Arts Student’s League during the 1980s, Parsons School of Design in the 1980s and studied with portrait artist Andy Reiss in Brooklyn, NY from 2009-2019.

He has been an artist/craftsman his entire life. His artwork from 1985 -2020 was the creation, production and sale of a handmade puppet-stationary item made from latex rubber and activated by a clothespin. They were called Zortz Puppet Noteholders. He started selling them on the streets of New York, then moved to craft shows and the wholesale craft market.

His business slowed during the pandemic, so he started making large plaster face sculptures and selling them online from 2020 until the present

Max met Phyllis Azar in 1981 and started dating in 1982. They were married in 1988. 

Sp. PHYLLIS AZAR was born in 1958 and graduated from Wm. H. Maxwell Vocational High School in Brooklyn, New York in 1976. She went to Fordham University for 1 year in 1995. She worked in book publishing starting with Liza (Gyllenhaal) Bennet at Bennet Book Publishing.

MOLLY GYLLENHAAL was born in 1989. She graduated from LaGuardia High School in 2007 and Emerson College (Boston) in 2011. She works as a Licensed Real Estate agent for Compass Realty in Brooklyn. She was married on 8/21/2021

Sp. BEAU MALLARD was born in 1983. Beau is an assistant manager at Midtown Comic in New York City.  They have one son:

LOGAN MAX MALLARD was born in 2024.

KATHRYN (KATE) GYLLENHAAL was born in 1960 and she went to Bryn Athyn Elementary School and the Academy of the New Church, graduating in 1978. After high school, she moved to Los Angeles and was a nanny for one year for her niece Maggie Gyllenhaal. She attended Bennington College in Vermont for two years, then transferred to New York University, graduating in 1984 with a combined BFA/MFA. 

For the following 30 years she danced in many companies based out of New York City and started her own dance company, Kate Gyllenhaal/MoCo (The Moving Company), which presented her original choreography at many venues including Symphony Space in NYC and Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival in MA. Simultaneous to her dance career, she became a personal trainer and eventually formed her own personal training company called HomeBodies, which she ran for 10 years, selling it in 1993. The company continues to prosper under its new ownership.  

In 2009, she launched eXerBlast in Manhattan’s TriBeCa neighborhood—a pioneering concept that combined video game-inspired technology with active play to promote physical fitness for children. After running eXerBlast until 2013, she returned to personal training before founding CREA Interactivity in 2018. This venture builds on the foundation of eXerBlast but offers a more sophisticated and high-tech experience. At CREA Interactivity, children engage in immersive, technology-driven adventures designed to inspire environmental problem-solving, teamwork, creativity, and physical activity through play. CREA opened its flagship location in Industry City, Brooklyn, in May 2024. Kate married her graduate school sweetheart Ümit Çelebi in 1996 at Chesterwood in Stockbridge, MA.

Sp. ÜMIT ÇELEBI was born in1960 in Turkey. His family moved to the Netherlands in 1964 where Umit attended the American School of the Hague in The Hague for K-12, graduating in 1977. He moved to the United States to attend Brown University in Providence, RI, and graduated in 1981 with BA degrees in International Relations and Theatre Arts. From there he moved to NYC to attend the NYU Graduate Acting Program, graduating with an MFA in Acting in 1984. Since that time, he has been a stage, screen and voice actor based in NYC.

AJDA OLIVIA ÇELEBI was born in 1999 and attended elementary school at TriBeCa Learning Center, middle school at Battery Park City School and high school at Millenium High School graduating in 2017. She attended Occidental College in Los Angeles graduating cum laude in 2021 with a BA in Critical Theory-Social Justice. 

After graduating, she moved to Nashville to work as an AmericaCorps school tutor. Following that, she worked as a studio assistant for a visual artist, and most recently, she worked for Turnip Green, an organization dedicated to repurposing materials for art. She starts graduate school at UMass Amherst in their MFA Creative Writing Program for Fiction this fall and is the recipient of the Rose Fellowship.

MAVI ELIZABETH ÇELEBI was born in 2002 and attended elementary school at TriBeCa Learning Center and middle school at Battery Park City School, then attended Beacon High School graduating in 2020. 

She attended Bard College in New York for 2 years, then went to work for World-Wide Opportunity for Organic Farmers (WWOOF). She has farmed all over the south, in New England and in France. She now works with Kate at CREA Interactivity as the manager and lead instructor.

EMILY GYLLENHAAL was born in 1962 and graduated from the Academy of the New Church in 1980. She remembers being rebellious (at least in attitude). Uncle Hugh died when she was a junior in high school. She describes his death as both devastating and motivating. 

She attended Bard College in New York for the first two years of college. After that, the government took away or drastically reduced survivor benefits for the children of deceased parents. Emily had to move back home and finished her college at Temple University graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology in 1984. 

After college, she moved to Philadelphia and lived around the South Street Area in South Philadelphia. She worked as a social worker for the home bound elderly program of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Later, she ran an arts program for older adults. It was during that time that her boss introduced her to running, and she has continued with that ever since.

Emily eventually left her work and had an extended trip around Europe. She managed to sprain her ankle a few days into the trio and backpacked the rest of the trip on tip toe. She spent time in Ulm, Germany visiting Susan Rogers Chapman and also in Sweden visiting with many of our relatives.

After her trip, she moved to New York City and worked as an HIV counselor. At the same time, she attended New York University earning a graduate degree in social work in 1993. Following graduate school, she worked as a psychotherapist in the New York City public school system. Since 2001, she has worked at a middle school in the East Flatbush neighborhood. The school is a performing arts school, and the population is largely Caribbean. She also consults with a Salvation Army Boys Group home. Emily met Roger Rosenthal at Bard College, but didn’t start dating until years later. They were married in 1993.

The same year that she graduated from New York University, she married Roger Rosenthal. 

Sp. ROGER ROSENTHAL was born in 1958 and grew up in Queens, NY. Roger is also a therapist and has a private practice. Emily and Roger have lived in the same home in Park Slope since 1996. They both love to run and travel. Roger is a surf fisherman and has written and published many articles and books on fishing. He also collects wine.

JONAH BENNET ROSENTHAL was born in 1998. He is an artist and studies and practices Buddhism and the healing arts. In 2023, he traveled to the Amazon to study with the indigenous healers of Peru.

LUCIAN ABE ROSENTHAL was born in 1998. He is a graduate of Connecticut College (2024), where he majored in environmental studies with a minor in economics.  After school, he moved to Maui, Hawaii, where he is working for solar energy company. He spends his free time surfing, fishing and skateboarding.

Peter Rittenhouse Gyllenhaal: A Talented Musician and Engineer

Peter was born on May 2, 1927, the fifth of seven children and the fourth of four boys, in the family home on Alnwick Road. He grew up during two defining eras—the Great Depression (1929–1939) and World War II (1939–1945). His father died tragically when Peter was only seven, a loss that shaped his early years.

One of Peter’s earliest memories was walking up the street during the Depression when the Hyatt sisters, who lived across the street, stopped him to ask whether he had eaten in recent days. They brought him into their home and fed him. He often accompanied his mother on grocery trips, carefully listing every item and its cost, then adding up the total to be sure they had enough money.

In high school, Peter played football, fenced on the school team, and studied violin.

Peter enlisted in the United States Navy on April 20, 1945, right out of high school. He served as a Seaman First Class aboard the escort carrier U.S.S. Cape Gloucester (CVE-109) at the end of the war in the Pacific. He was honorably discharged on July 6, 1946, and re-enlisted in the Naval Reserve the next day, remaining in the reserves until 1954.

After the war, Peter used the GI Bill to attend the University of Pennsylvania, completing his undergraduate degree and then earning a master’s degree in electrical and systems engineering in 1954.

Peter met Marion Down in 1949 at the C&S Club in Bryn Athyn, where she teased him that he was “a damn fool” for expecting a girl he was writing to to return his letters. He proposed the next year, and they were married on November 22, 1951. They honeymooned in Cape May, New Jersey, where—as they fondly remembered—they “froze to death.”

Peter began his professional career in 1955 at General Electric, working on the Atlas project. In 1957 he joined RCA on the BMEWS (Ballistic Missile Early Warning System) project, which later evolved into NORAD (North American Air Defense Command). He remained with RCA and later GE for 30 years, working on high-level government and military contracts including the AEGIS weapons system for the Navy. He retired from RCA in 1989, then continued contracting for another six years on the AEGIS program.

After retiring from GE, Peter served Bryn Athyn Church and the Academy of the New Church in various committee roles. He was devoted to classical music and played first violin in the Bryn Athyn Orchestra for most of his adult life. He was also an avid gardener: the family kept a large vegetable garden every year, and Peter later managed the Bryn Athyn community garden for many years after the children were grown.

In the final years of his life, Peter developed dementia, first noticeable when he began struggling to find words in conversation. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he was scheduled to enter a nursing home, but all facilities in the Philadelphia area were closed to new admissions. He remained at home with round-the-clock care until his death on September 27, 2020.

Marion Louise Down Gyllenhaal 

Marion Louise Down was born on October 3, 1929, in Canada. In her early years, her family lived in Kitchener, Ontario. When the Depression struck and her father (“Puppup”) lost his job, a family friend, Mr. Hazen, told him about work in Fergus. They moved there, and her father took a job at Beattie Brothers making washing machines.

Marion excelled in school—she graduated at the top of her eighth-grade class and earned a scholarship. She attended high school in Fergus until her junior year, when the family moved to Bridgeport, where she completed high school.

In 1946, Marion came to Bryn Athyn and enrolled as a senior in the Academy of the New Church high school. Feeling too young for college, she chose to repeat her senior year. During her freshman year at Bryn Athyn College, she lived in Glencairn; in 1948 and 1949 she boarded with Dr. Andrew Doering and his family, and afterward at Will Alden’s home. She graduated from Bryn Athyn College with a Bachelor of Arts in 1951.

Between 1953 and 1964, Marion and Peter had three children—Pam, Dennis, and Wayne. While raising their family, Marion pursued further education. Between 1964 and 1967, she attended night school in Abington, earning a B.A. in teaching and reading. From 1967 to 1971, she attended Temple University, completing a master’s degree in remedial reading.

Marion went on to teach in the Lower Moreland School District, then at Bryn Athyn Elementary School, and eventually at Bryn Athyn College. She loved her flower gardens, and she created crafts for the annual craft fair. She was also an excellent cook, with several dishes reserved for special occasions.

After Peter’s death, Marion sold the family home on Woodward Drive and moved to Cairnwood Village. She continued gardening, making jam, and selling it, remaining active and engaged in the community until her passing on March 11, 2025.

Children Grand Children and Great Grand Children of Peter and Marion

• Peter Rittenhouse Gyllenhaal (5/2/1927- 9/27/2020)

Sp. Marion Louise Down (10/3/1929 -3/11/2025) married 11/22/1951

• Pamela Gyllenhaal (1953) married 1987

Sp. Francis Reinprecht (1953)

• Ian Lee Reinprecht (1989) adopted: 1990  married 2024

Sp. Kailey Antosczewski (1989)

• Megan Kim Reinprecht (1993) married 2024

Sp. Chris Spitalletto (12/ ?)

• Dennis Keith Gyllenhaal (1954) married 1978

Sp. Nelwyn Pattie Pitts (12/31/1952-4/7/2024)

• Evan Peter Gyllenhaal (1984) Married 2010

Sp. Kirsten Liljiqvist (1985)

• Eleanor Grace Gyllenhaal (2016)

• Parker Gyllenhaal (2018)

• Wade Elliot Gyllenhaal (1989)

• Wayne Gyllenhaal (1959)

PAMELA GYLLENHAAL was born in 1953. She went to elementary school and high school in Bryn Athyn. She graduated from the Academy in 1971. She attended West Chester State College and graduated with a BA in Speech pathology and Audiology in 1975. She met her best friend Judy at West Chester. She attended Trenton State with an MA in Speech Pathology in 1979. From 1976 to 1980 she worked in Bucks County IU#22 as a speech therapist. In 1980 she moved to Phoenix and worked in Creighton School District as a speech therapist. From 1983 to 1994 She worked for Dulaney Eye Clinic as a Certified Ophthalmic Technician. She met and married Francis Reinprecht on 6/28/1985, then returned to work in Creighton School District as a speech therapist from 1994-2000. She and Francis adopted two Korean children during that time, Ian and Megan. They moved to Philadelphia in 2000 and Pam continued to work as a speech therapist in Bucks County until her retirement in 2015.

Pam’s memories of her childhood summers are filled with vacations in Cape May Point, listening to her father  practice the violin for hours and a special trip out West on a family trip in 1967.

Sp. FRANCIS REINPRECHT was born in in 1951. He attended Lafayette Elementary School and Camelback High School graduating in 1969. He attended Arizona State University, graduating with a BA in Education in 1976 and an MS in Natural Sciences in 1982.  He worked in Creighton School district in Phoenix until 2000 when the family moved to Philadelphia. After that he worked at the Academy of the New Church until retiring.

His memories of growing up in Arizona include camping, fishing, hunting and cabins in the White mountains.

MEGAN REINPRECHT was born in 1993.  Her adoption was finalized on 1/27/1993. When Pam and Francis moved to Bryn Athyn, she attended elementary school and high school in Bryn Athyn. She attended college at Bryn Athyn College earning a BA in History, then attended Villanova University and graduated from law school in (  ). While going to school, she worked at Aeropostle. . She married Christoher Spitalletto on June 22,2024.  After she passed her boards, she worked for Legal Aid in Norristown, PA. In 2025 he switched and is now working with veterans to help them get the aid they need.

Sp. CHRIS SPITALLETTO was born in  ____. He attended Rutgers University and graduated with a degree in finance. He works as a real estate agent

IAN REINPRECHT was born in 1989. He arrived in Arizona in 1990 and after his adoption in 1990. He graduated from Bryn Athyn College with a degree in history. He started work at Home Depot in the garden department and progressed to running a distribution center. He married Kailey Antoszewski in 2024.

sp, KAILEY ANTOSZEWSKI was born in 1989.

DENNIS KEITH GYLLENHAAL was born in 1954. He attended Bryn Athyn Elementary School and went to high school at the Academy of the New Church graduating in 1972. He went to West Chester State for 1 year, then transferred to Washington University in St. Louis. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy in 1977.

During high school, he ran cross country and in college he ran cross country and track. Over 40 years between high school and his mid 50’s he ran 40 marathons. As a senior in high school, he was the social rep which involved arranging social events for the entire school almost every week. 

 His first job was with Shriners Hospital in St. Louis where he met Nelwyn (Pitts) Longfield. Over the course of his 47year Physical Therapy career, he worked in 4 states practicing orthopedic and industrial physical therapy. He also took time in 1984 to develop an internet program for Physical Therapist which he ran until 1994. He continued to work in various private practices until 2022 when he retired.

In his retirement he enjoys hiking, woodworking, playing guitar and volunteering for Habitat for Humanity and doing trail maintenance at Catalina State Park.

NELWYN PATTIE PITTS was born on 12/31/1952. She went to elementary school in Tucson and Kansas. She graduated from Shawnee Mission West High school in Overland Park KS in 1971. During high school she was a cheerleader and sang in a church choir.  She attended college at both Kansas University and Washington University in St. Louis. She graduated with a degree in Occupational Therapy from Washington University in 1976. Nel and Dennis  were married in 1978. Following their marriage, they lived in Phoenix, San Diego and Kansas City. Their two sons Evan and Wade were born in Kansas City. The family moved to Tucson, AZ in 1994 where Dennis continued to work in physical therapy until 2023 when he retired. Nel developed Lewy Body Dementia in 2006 and suffered with this for 18 years, dying at home on 4/7/2024.

EVAN PETER GYLLENHAAL was born in 1984. He started elementary school in Kansas, but at the age of 9, the family moved to Tucson Arizona in the summer of 1994. He completed middle school at Wilson Elementary School in 1999. During middle school, he participated in a program called Odyssey of the Mind, and their team won the state competition. He also ran cross country and track. He attended high school at Canyon Del Oro, graduating in 2003. During high school he ran track and cross country and continued to participate in Odyssey of the Mind. His team won the world competition his freshman year.

Evan attended Lehigh University and graduated in 2007 with a bachelor’s in engineering. While there, he met his wife, Kirsten. They were married 3 years after graduation in 2010. His first job was in Syracuse, New York, working for Lockheed Martin. When he  married, he moved to Boston and started working for ***. Later, he worked for Boston Scientific in their research and Development division. In 2025, he began work for Resonetics.They have two children, Eleanor and Parker

KIRSTEN LILLIQUIST was born in1985. She went to Driscoll Elementary School and graduated from Wilton High School in 2003.She remembers attending the wedding of her Kindergarten teacher and doing a composting experiment in second grade. I high school, she remembers going to the Junior National Championship with the rowing team. She attended Lehigh University from 2003 to 2007. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering. After graduation, she moved to Boston to work for Tetratech in remediation, assessment and compliance with environmental laws. In 2014 she worked for EMC doing environmental compliance and in 2024 she started work for Netflix, She works from home in this job.

• ELEANOR GRACE GYLLENHAAL  (2016)

• PARKER GYLLENHAAL (2018)

PETER WAYNE GYLLENHAAL was born in 1959. He attended elementary school and high school in Bryn Athyn, graduating from the Academy in 1977, He attended the University of Wisconsin in La Crosse and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy. He moved to Tucson, Arizona and worked initially for St. Mary’s Hospital. Later he worked in a private practice that was bought by Health South Rehabilitation.   He worked there until 1996 when he left the practice and went to the University of Arizona to earn a master’s in business administration. On graduating, he moved to Atlanta, Georgia where he worked for Home Depot and eventually for American Express. Within a few years, he moved to Phoenix and continues to work for American Express.

Eileen Gyllenhaal Rogers: Beloved Ballet Teacher

Eileen was born on November 28, 1928, in the family home on Alnwick Road. In her early years, she and her brother Peter were known as “the little kids,” with the older siblings already heading off to college and, later, to war. Peter and Eileen spent their childhood swimming in the pond, sledding on Church Hill, and camping with their parents on Cape Cod. They took ballroom dancing lessons together and often rode the train to Jenkintown to see movies.

Eileen also pursued private dance training with Miss Florence Roehner while still in high school. She performed in numerous recitals and, at just 17 years old, presented her own recital in June 1945.

After high school, Eileen attended Taylor School of Business, graduating in April 1949. She then took a position at the University of Pennsylvania as secretary to the dean of the college.

Eileen married Gordon Elmer Rogers on December 15, 1951. Gordon was born on October 10, 1927, in Buffalo, New York. Together they had four children: Sandy, Karen, Susan, and Kenneth.

Eileen taught ballet for 40 years and also worked as a part-time tutor at Bryn Athyn Elementary School for 30 years, becoming a beloved presence for generations of students. She passed away on May 7, 2014.

sp. Gordon Elmer Rogers was born on 9/10/1927 and died on 1/27/2022. 

Gordon Rogers graduated from Bryn Athyn College in 1948. He worked in Human Resources at Continental Mills for 10 years and then spent 28 years in Information Technology at Burroughs. He and Eileen were married for more than six decades, creating a warm and lively household anchored in community, education, and the arts.

Children Grand Children and Great Grand Children of Eileen and Gordon

• Eileen Gyllenhaal (12/28/1928-5/7/2014) Married 12/15/1951

Sp. Gordon Rogers (9/10/1927-1/27/2022) 

• Sandra Rogers (1/7/1953-12/10/2023) married 1974

Sp. James C. Pellani (1951)

• Christopher J. Pellani (1975)

• Jeremy Davin Pellani (1978) married 1999

Sp. Tavia (1999)

• Azariah Pellani (2000)

• Jena Rachel Pellani (1979) 

Sp. Scot Frey

• Jake Michael Frey (2009)

• James D Pellani (1981)

• Joel C Pellani (1984)

• Kathryn Pellani (1987)

• Karen Rogers (4/6/1956-2021) married 1983

Sp. Bruce Love (1959)

• Timothy Michael Love (1984)

  • Kylie Joan Love (2006)

• Alysia Love (1987)

• Susan T Rogers (1959) married 1985

Sp. Robert Ronald “Ron” Chapman (1957)

• Michael Scott Chapman (1989) married 2017

Sp. Kristin Feathers (1994)

• Abigail Mae Chapman (2024)

• Samantha Nicole Chapman (1991) married 2019

Sp, Derrick McCabe (1990) 

• G Kenneth Rogers (1962) married 1989

Sp. Michelle Lobby (1961)

• Megan Rogers (1991)  married 2021

Sp. James Thompson (1989)

• Cassidy (2024)

• Kelly Rogers (1993) married 2023

Sp. Matthew Anderson (1991)

• Owen (2024)

• Tara Rogers (1995) married 2022)

Sp. Tyler Cox (1991)

• Declan (2024)

SANDRA ROGERS was born in 1953 and she died on 12/10/2023. She earned an degree at Bucks County Community College and went on the study at Moravian College and Montclair State University. She married Jim Pellani in1974 and has 6 children Christoper, Jeremy, Jena, James, Cara, Laura, Joel and Kathryn. She works as a full-time mother.

Sp. JAMES C. PELLANI was born in 1951. 

CHRISTOPHER J. PELLANI was born in 1975

JEREMY DAVIN PELLANI was born in 1978 and married Tavia  in 1999

Sp. TAVIA  (1999)

• AZARIAH PELLANI (2000)

JENNA RACHEL PELLANI (1979)

Sp. SCOTT FREY

• JAKE MICHAEL FREY (2009)

JAMES D. PELLANI (1981)

JOEL C. PELLANI (1984)

KATHRYN PELLANI (1987)

KAREN ROGERS was born in 1956 and she died in 2021. She had an associate’s degree From the Academy of the New Church. She married Bruce Love in 1983

Sp. BRUCE LOVE was born in 1959. Bruce was an engineer for Magnavox and Karen was a full-time homemaker. They have two children 

TIMOTHY M. LOVE was born in 1984

ALYSIA LOVE was born in 1987.

SUSAN T. ROGERS was born in 1959 and grew up on Gravel Hill Road in Bucks County, PA. She went to Bryn Athyn Elementary school and the Academy of the New Church graduating in 1977. She attended Penn State University studying Spanish and business.  She graduated in 1981 with a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish. 

While at Penn State, she met her husband, Ron. After graduation, she worked for Prudential in the pension plan accounting department. The company she the department down and she worked in Life insurance. She left Prudential in 1984 and moved to Nashville. She married Ron on 5/25/1985 while he was in the army. They moved to Oklahoma for 6 months while Ron was going through training, then they were transferred to Germany for 3 ½ years. 

After their deployment to Germany, they returned to Fort Monroe in Virginia. Ron took an early out of the military in 1992 after 11 years in the military. Susan was raising two children during that time, but since then she has had four different jobs. She managed a Curves (exercise) program, was an office manager for interior decorators, an office manager for a financial services group and over the past 10 years has been the office manager for their church.

Sp. ROBERT R. CHAPMAN was born in 1957 in Germany. He grew up in Lansdale, PA and graduated from North Penn High School in 1957.  He attended Penn State on and ROTC scholarship studying engineering for a few years, then changed his major, graduating with a degree in Arts and Sciences in 1981.  He was a captain in the army for 11 years, serving in both the US and Germany. He took an early out in 1992. After the army, he went into business for himself doing supervisor training, train the trainer, etc. Later, he teamed up with a physician to work on electronic medical records and went into doctors’ offices and trained their staffs. After the doctor died, the company closed and he now works in Richmond VA as the business manager for a company that packages ink cartridges for Hewlett Packard.

Susan and Ron love to travel. They go to Switzerland often to visit his 93-year-old grandmother.

They have two children.

MICHAEL SCOTT CHAPMAN was born in 1989. He spent his first two years in Germany, then the family moved back to Virginia. He went to Summit Christian Academy for Elementary school and high school graduating in 2007. He attended New River Community College for a few years but did not graduate as he was working full-time at Best Buy. He started a career in video gaming, and after the COVID pandemic went into providing computers for gaming.

Sp. KRISTIN FEATHERS was born in 1994. They were married in 2017. She is a dog groomer.

ABIGAIL MAE CHAPMAN was born in 2024.

SAMANTHA NICOLE CHAPMAN was born in 1991. She grew up in Hampton VA and attended Summit Christian Academy for elementary school through high school graduating in 2010. She attended Lynchburg College in Virginia studying English and graduated in 2014. She went on to attain a Master’s in Non-Profit Leadership in 2017. She worked for United Way for several years, then took a job with the Chesapeake Bay foundation where she is the director of major gifts.

Sp. DERRICK MC CABE was born in 1990. They were married in 2019. He attended Lynchburg College and graduated with a degree in Sports management. He is presently the office manager for the Richmond Squirrels.

G. KENNETH ROGERS was born in 1962. He attended elementary school and high school In Bryn Athyn, graduating from high school in 1981. graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Penn State in 1981 and an MBA from the University of Texas in Austin in 1987. He and Michelle met at Unisys in 1985. They were married in 1989.

Sp. MICHELLE LOBBY was born in 1962. She attended elementary school at Hazelwood elementary in Middlesex, NJ, and graduated from Middlesex High School in 1979.

She attended Penn State University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting in 1983. She then attended Drexel University and graduated with an MBA in 1986.

Aside from a brief stay in Boston, Michelle and Ken have lived outside of Philadelphia since college. They lived in a home outside of Landale for 27 years and are in their fourth home now.

Ken worked at Unisys and Ford Tractor from 1985 to 1989 as a systems analyst. He has worked at Willis Towers Watson, Prudential and Fidelity Investments as a project manager from 1989 to the present.

Michelle worked for Unisys as an Accountant from 1984-1987. She then worked for Honeywell from 1987-1991. She became a stay-at-home mom in 1992 and remained so until 2012. During that time, she worked for Lizzy High sewing doll clothes for company. She was a brownie leader for each of her girls, volunteered at their elementary school, for the townships soccer league and was the treasurer for their summer swim team for 12 years.

She worked at McMahon Associates in the Accounting department until 2023 when she retired as their Controller. She is an avid reader and enjoys quilting.

Michelle and Ken have three daughters, Megan, Kelly and Tara

MEGAN ROGERS was born in 1991. She attended Nash Elementary in North Penn School District and graduated from North Penn HS in 2009. She graduated from Penn State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism in 2013. She married James Thompson in 2021. James was born in 989. They have a daughter Cassidy born in 2024.

KELLY ROGERS was born in 1993. She attended Nash Elementary in North Penn School District and graduated from North Penn HS in 2011. Kelly graduated for Penn State University with a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering in 2015. She graduated from Yale School of Medicine in 2019. She married Matthew Anderson in 2023. 

Sp. MATTHEW ANDERSON was born in 1991. 

OWEN ANDERSON was born in 2024.

TARA ROGERS was born in 1995. She attended Nash Elementary in North Penn School District and graduated from North Penn HS in 2014. She graduated from Penn State University with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology in 2018. She received a Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Arcadia University in 2020. She married Tyler Cox in 2022.

Sp. TYLER COX was born in1991.  

DECLAN COX was born in 2024.