Business, community leader Alan Philpson dies at 82
ALAN H. PHILIPSON, a businessman and civic leader, passed away on August 4, 2021 at the age of 82, surrounded by family.
ALAN H. PHILPSON
An alumnus of Isidore Newman School and Tulane University, Philipson enjoyed a successful career as the third generation leader of his family’s business, Superior Merchandise. Under his leadership, the business grew from a small regional company into a national distributor to major retailers across the country.
While he traveled the globe for his business career and spent large swaths of time in New York City and at the beach in Perdido Key, there was no place he would rather be than his hometown of New Orleans. Upon selling Superior Merchandise to Tandy Brands in 2004, Philipson devoted himself full-time to his passion for the community of New Orleans.
There was scarcely a board in town that did not not seek Alan’s guidance and leadership. His board service over the years included the Louisiana Board of Commerce and Industry (chairman), the Industrial Development Board of the City of New Orleans (president), the Metropolitan Crime Commission (chairman), Newman School Board of Governors (Chairman), WYES Board of Trustees (Chairman), Bricolage Academy (founding board chair), Lambeth House Foundation (president), Lambeth House, Inc. Board of Trustees (secretary), LASPCA (first vice president), KIPP New Orleans Board of Trustees (treasurer), Hurstville Security District (founder and secretary-treasurer), Kingsley House, Valencia, the Greater New Orleans Foundation, Longue Vue House and Gardens, Ursuline Academy Board of Trustees, Citizens for 1 Greater New Orleans Advisory Council, the Pro Bono Publico Foundation and Low Cost Animal Medical Clinic.
His organizational memberships included the School of Design, New Orleans Lawn Tennis Club, the New York Athletic Club, the Huguenot Society of Louisiana, and the World Trade Center. He was the recipient of the National Jewish Medical and Research Center Humanitarian Award, the Family Service of Greater New Orleans Open Door Award, and the Louisiana Appleseed Good Apple Award in 2018. He was also the co-chair (with his wife Arlene) of the Heart and Soul Open Your Heart Gala for the American Heart Association in 2018 and a St. Charles Avenue magazine 2016 Activist of the Year.
No list of accomplishments and services, however, comes close to encompassing what Philipson meant to his family and to the community. After tragically losing both his sons Eric in 1999 and André in 2000, Philpson became dedicated to leaving a better world for his surviving grandson and others through his contributions to K-12 schools in New Orleans.
He dreamed of a city that boasted not only top-tier prep schools, but also equal access to high quality public education. He labored tirelessly to ensure that this happened through his work aiding in the founding of Bricolage Academy, using expertise gained working with KIPP New Orleans and as board chair of Newman School, and he continued in this work as a board member of the Pro Bono Publico Foundation, helping to raise and distribute millions of dollars to area K-12 schools and programs since 2006.
Anyone who saw Philipson walking his Shih Tzus Ginger and Snap around Hurstville several times a day also knew of his deep and abiding passion for animals.
In addition to giving of himself to the community and family, he was dearly beloved by his friends and was a mentor and confidant to generations of New Orleanians. The annual raucous holiday luncheon of his longtime tennis foursome, the “Saddlebrook Four,” was featured in The Advocate/Times-Picayune in December of 2020.
He was preceded in death by his sons André Philipson and Eric Philipson and is survived by his loving wife of 53 years Arlene, their grandson Edmund Philipson, and their daughter-in-law Elizabeth Crawford (Keith). He is also survived by his brother Lyle Philipson (Carole),
Funeral services will be private. There will be a celebration of life at a later date as conditions allow.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the American Heart Association or the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home & Cemeteries is in charge of the arrangements.
