Community leader Margot Garon is dead at 91
MARGOT STRAUSS GARON, a leader of the New Orleans Jewish community, died on April 13, 2018, two weeks after her 91st birthday.
MARGOT GARON
A tireless worker and Jewish community volunteer, she held numerous local, regional and national positions of leadership in a number of organizations. She served as a national board member for the Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership (CLAL), the National Council of Jewish Women serving as the president of the Greater New Orleans Section, and the Women’s Division for the Council of Jewish Federations.
Locally she served on the boards of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans, Jewish Family Service, the Jewish Community Center, Jewish Endowment Foundation, Woldenberg Living Center and was very involved with her congregation, Shir Chadash Conservative Congregation. She was the chair of Federation’s 1967 annual campaign.
She was born in Kirschheimbolanden, Germany and, along with her parents and brother, was brought to the United States at age 10 by her uncle. She was raised in Monroe, La., before attending LSU in Baton Rouge, where she met her future husband.
She was a resident of New Orleans since 1948, where she moved with her attorney husband and community leader Herbert J. Garon. The couple were married for 39 years.
In 1961, she and her husband participated in a mission to Israel – the first of many missions to Israel that she participated in and later led. When her children were fully grown she worked professionally at the Federation where she performed many roles culminating in her being assistant director and in charge of the annual fundraising campaign as well as the missions to Israel. Margot was one of the first women in New Orleans to step forward to endow her Lion of Judah annual Federation gift and served as its chair for over ten years.
Predeceased by her husband, she is survived by her daughter Kathy Bauman (David) of Little Rock, Arkansas, her son Kenny Garon (Bruria) of Kibbutz Revadim, Israel and her son R. Justin “Bobby” Garon (Robin Levy), seven grandchildren and one great-grandson. She also leaves behind her longtime companion Rene Lehmann.
Family and friends attended the funeral celebrating her long and distinguished life on Monday, April 16, 2018, at Shir Chadash, 3737 W. Esplanade Ave. in Metairie, at 1:00 p.m. Rabbi Alan Lehmann officiated. Burial followed at Jefferson Memorial Gardens at 11316 River Rd in St. Rose, LA.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans at 3747 W. Esplanade Av., Metairie, LA 70002; Shir Chadash or a charity of your choice. Arrangements by Tharp-Sontheimer-Tharp Funeral Home of Metairie.
