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ALVIN K. HALPERN, a successful native New Orleans businessman died Sunday, January 17, 2016 at Ochsner Foundation Hospital. He was 85.<\/p>\n
Halpern founded his own New Orleans-based business, Halpern’s Fabrics, with as many as 52 stores located across the Southeast U.S. from Atlanta to Houston and from Pensacola to Memphis. He later closed that enterprise and in 1977 began a prototype furniture store, Halpern’s The Home Furnishings Store & Caf\u00e9. Beginning as a prototype store for Swedish furniture company IKEA, the new concept store eventually became one of New Orleans’ top furniture retail outlet and began manufacturing furniture as well. Halpern purchased the former Coca-Cola bottling plant on South Jefferson Davis and converted it into a massive manufacturing plant for his furniture needs.<\/p>\n
He was a former member of the board of The Greater New Orleans Tourism and Convention Commission (now the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau) and was an original member and founder of the New Orleans Tourism and Marketing Corporation. Halpern also founded the Louisiana Tax Free program, drafting the language that eventually became the basis for the legislation that created it. He was considered a major player with Festival Productions and a study that directly led to the creation of the Essence Music Festival.<\/p>\n
Halpern and his wife, the former Theone Milman, also opened the Prytania Park Hotel in 1982, a 62-room boutique hotel featuring a European style courtyard, they operated together.<\/p>\n
He was a member of the New Orleans Young Presidents since he was 30 and transiitioned to the World Presidents Organizations in his late 60. He was still an active member at the time of his passing.
\nHe was also a longtime member of Touro Synagogue and most recently Congregation Gates of Prayer.<\/p>\n
Halpern was an Eagle Scout and was a graduate of Tulane University in 1951. During the Korean conflict, he served as an Air Force sergeant and was stationed in Albuequeque, N.M. He was a longtime member of Touro Synagogue and more recently affiliated with Congregation Gates of Prayer.<\/p>\n
In addition to his wife, he is survived by children Jenifer Halpern, Doriane Schulman (Jack), Edward Halpern (Joelle); siblings Sandra Pailet, Elliot Halpern (Linda) and Herbert Halpern (Jackie Bishop); five grandchildren and one great-grandson.<\/p>\n
Funeral services were held at Congregation Gates of Prayer synagogue, 4000 W. Esplanade Avenue, on Wednesday, January 20, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. Rabbi Robert Loewy officiated, with interment following thereafter in Gates of Prayer Cemetery (Joseph Street).<\/p>\n
Tharp-Sontheimer-Tharp of Metairie was in charge of arrangements.<\/p>\n
Memorial donations are suggested to the Ochsner Cancer Institute, where Alvin was a patient in the Hematology Department.<\/p>\n