Melba Steeg, civic leader, aviation supporter and philanthropist dies at 90

MELBA LAW STEEG, a community leader and civic volunteer, died Wednesday, December 25, 2013 at her New Orleans residence. She was 90.

Melba Law Steeg (1923-2013)

Steeg was a true patron of the arts and fundraiser, serving on the boards of many non-profit organizations including the New Orleans Museum of Art, the national boards of the National Jewish Center for Immunology and Respiratory Medicine and the National Council of Christians and Jews.

Born in Mansfield, LA, Steeg attended Northwestern State University and was a longtime supporter of the institution after her graduation. The Melba L. Steeg Endowed Professorship in Primary Education was established in her honor and in 2002, while serving as president of the Foundation Board, Steeg led a successful $1,000,000 fundraising campaign, which resulted in the university’s first endowed chair also named in her honor, The Melba L. Steeg Endowed Chair in Educational Technology Leadership. The university honored Steed in 2004 with an honorary doctorate in humane letters.

During her college years, Steeg learned to fly and over the course of her lifetime maintained a love for aviation. She became the first woman to chair the Aviation Committee of the New Orleans Area Chamber of Commerce and later she was the first woman president and chair of the Board of Directors of the Greater New Orleans Tourist and Convention Commission. Additionally, she was appointed by Governor Edwin Edwards as the first chairwoman of the Louisiana Airport Authority.

Steeg married attorney, philanthropist and civic activist Moise S. Steeg. The two of them contributed to several major arts institutions while living in New Orleans and raising a family. They were dedicated collectors of paintings by prominent artists Marc Chagall, Joan Miro and others and enjoyed displaying Chinese figurines and ceramics they collected through the years. The Steegs’ Tiffany glass collection was considered one of the finest in the nation and was lent to the New Orleans Museum of Art for an exhibit in 1991. Both Steegs were the recipients of the Mayor’s Arts Award in 2002.

Though she was predeceased by her husband in 2010, Steeg is survived by her adopted children, Robert Steeg (Pamela), Marion Steeg Bustamante (Chava) of San Jose, CA and Barbara Midlo of Jerusalem, Israel; siblings Georgie Roenigk (Robert) and Gordon Law (Diane); five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Private family graveside services will be held at Hebrew Rest Cemetery No. 2. on Sunday, Dec. 29. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are suggested to Temple Sinai, the New Orleans Museum of Art and Northwestern State University, Natchitoches, LA. Condolences may be expressed online here. Tharp-Sontheimer-Tharp Funeral Home of Metairie was in charge of the arrangements.