James R. Schlesinger - Personal Life

Personal Life

In 1954, Schlesinger married Rachel Line Mellinger (born February 27, 1930 – died October 11, 1995); they had eight children: Cora (1955), Charles (1956), Ann (1958), William (1959), Emily (1961), Thomas (1964), Clara (1966), and James (1970).

Rachel Schlesinger was an accomplished violinist and board member of the Arlington Symphony. In the early 1990s, she was a leader in the fundraising effort to create a premier performing arts center on the Virginia side of the Potomac River. She died before seeing the center's completion. Subsequent to her death, Dr. Schlesinger donated $1 million to have the center named in his wife's memory.

The Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center at Northern Virginia Community College, Alexandria Campus opened in September, 2001. It is an up to date building that features the Mary Baker Collier Theatre, the Margaret W. and Joseph L. Fisher Art Gallery, the Wachovia Forum and Seminar Room spaces. Clients of the Schlesinger Center include the Alexandria Symphony, the United States Marine Band, “The President’s Own,” and the U.S. Marine Chamber Orchestra, the United States Army Band, “Pershing’s Own, “ and the U.S. Army Strings, the United States Navy Band, the New Dominion Chorale, the American Balalaika Symphony, Festivals of Music, various ethnic groups and many, many others.