Herbert Barton

Herbert Barton, a beloved lifelong New Orleanian and a pillar of the Jewish community, died on Friday morning January 22, 2021 only weeks after celebrating his 98th birthday. Herbert succumbed after a brief but brave battle with the Covid virus. Herbert was born on December 25, 1922, the first of five children of Bessie Rosenblum Barton and Morris Barton. From youth Herbert’s special qualities shone. Upon graduation from Woodrow Wilson Grammar School, he was awarded the American Legion Medal for exemplifying the qualities that define character, courage, honor, leadership, patriotism, scholarship and service – all qualities that continued to define him throughout his life. In his youth, Herbert also daily attended Hebrew school after regular school and became fluent in Hebrew. Following Wilson School, he attended Fortier High School graduating in 1939 and then enrolling in Tulane University’s School of Commerce. In his first year at Tulane, Pearl Harbor was bombed so Herbert enlisted in the United States Navy’s V-7 program, which allowed men to remain in school and report to duty upon graduation. Herbert then attended Tulane year round, so he could receive his degree early, graduating on January 3, 1943. Following graduation, he was sent to Northwestern University in Chicago for three months of midshipmen training as part of the 90 Day Wonders, and then to gunnery school. Herbert entered the Navy as an ensign, served in the Pacific until the bombing of Hiroshima, and was promoted to full lieutenant as the navigator of a supply ship and then a destroyer tender. He remained a proud lieutenant and veteran for the rest of his life.

Herbert returned home on May 30, 1946 and married Vera Levy Barton on June 8, 1946. He almost did not make it home in time for the wedding and had to use pull to get a suit made! He never forgot his war experiences, though, and always wore an American flag pin on his coat lapel.

Herbert began his business career as a manager for his father’s five Rex Hats retail stores locally and two on the Gulf Coast. When the stores were closed in the early 60’s, Herbert briefly became an insurance agent with Mutual of New York until in 1963, Congregation Temple Sinai leaders approached him to use his business acumen, people skills, organizational ability and Jewish knowledge to become the historical congregation’s Executive Director. Herbert remained in this post for 37 years becoming synonymous with Temple Sinai. He thoroughly devoted his energies to the operation and people of the congregation. When he retired in 2000, he then became Executive Director Emeritus until his death.

Herbert’s early duties at Temple Sinai were all-encompassing including directing the Religious School and youth group, as well as overseeing all the temple business, facilities and programming. During these years he also accepted the responsibility of Director of Hebrew Rest Cemetery, a position he held until 2017. During his earlier years at Sinai, Herbert became involved with the Southern Federation of Temple Youth becoming its advisor and instrumental in the fundraising and development of Henry S. Jacobs Camp. He also became a tutor for students preparing for their bar and bat mitzvahs, teaching them Hebrew, to chant, and to perform the service. Herbert taught each of his own grandchildren, memories they cherish to this day. In recent decades, Herbert was honored annually to chant himself at the Jewish High Holidays, an experience in which the entire congregation delighted. On his birthday, just weeks ago, Herbert also chanted the Torah blessings at the Friday evening service.

After the death of his first wife, Vi as he called her, Herbert married Sue Snyder Levy. With Sue he continued attending Temple services every Friday evening, and then they sped off to Galatoire’s for dinner where he had his special table reserved for him. As Herbert aged and the chairs began to bother his back, Sue had a chair cover made with his name, Herbert, embroidered on it which remained at the restaurant, and their waiter placed on his chair awaiting his arrival. On the Friday of Herbert’s passing, in his memory, Galatoire’s set up his table with his personalized seat cover. Yes, Herbert loved “dining” as he called it – not for the food, but for the experience! Whether Galatoire’s, Antoine’s, Ruth’s Chris in his later years, or Arnaud’s in his earlier ones, Herbert had his waiters and was known and loved by all employees. He always said he would live until he died, and he did!

Herbert definitely had his own style and ways as reflected in his favorite song, My Way by Frank Sinatra, and it was his anthem. Yes, he loved music. When younger, he would lie in bed with his tape recorder playing and in later years would sit in front of the television listening to the music on it. He loved the big bands and still watched Laurence Welk, enjoyed the old musical Broadway shows. He said he liked to be “entertained.”

Herbert also was an avid parade goer. On Mardi Gras day he always came with his list, so he knew everyone’s placement in Rex – and would run down the street chasing those floats to gather his loot. Sports was another passion. As a kid Herbert played in the available parks, at Tulane he participated in intramural baseball and on Levy family picnics he captained a team as one of the stars. He did not miss a televised football game, for years had Saints season tickets, but always remained a staunch Tulane fan harboring his old college competitiveness with LSU.

Herbert, though, did become agitated and impatient with some societal changes and for years blamed denim for ruining the world. He felt dressing maintained a decorum of behavior. Appearance mattered to Herbert. He spent hours combing his hair, shaving with an electric razor twice a day, got mani/pedi’s throughout his adult life and polished off with his English Leather or Old Spice. Yes, Herbert dressed at all times. When in the hat business, he never went bare-headed. Throughout life, he wore his coat and fancy tie, always well-coordinated. He still dressed up for airplane trips and was known for mowing his grass after work still in his coat and tie.

Herbert’s yard was his pride and joy, as well as his exercise. From Wren Street to Walmsley Avenue, to Emerald Street, into his 90s, Herbert labored in his yard doing his own, planting, weeding, hedging, mowing and designing. He would spend an entire day in the scalding hot summer sun, sweat pouring down his body, but he delighted in the experience – and was so proud of his Garden of the Month achievements.

Herbert was a creator and caretaker in all aspects of life, but his greatest production was his family. He and his daughter Barbara shared a lifetime of memories and an unbreakable bond, a closeness, loyalty, mutual admiration, pride, and most importantly a loving friendship. With both of his wives, he was an affectionate, devoted husband always holding hands. He never was an in-law in any family. He became a member of each with every relative adoring him. Herbert, or Granddaddy, became the patriarch, mentor, moral compass for his grandchildren as they got older – and he beamed with pride in the successes of each and delighted in their children, his great-grandchildren. He loved all his granddogs too!

Yes, Herbert Barton was a model human being for all who knew him, He is being described by all his mourning admirers as special, a person of character to revere, sweet, charming, brilliant, inspirational, an honor to have known. He certainly was well-respected – a true mensch, a person of integrity and honor. He has been an example to generations of friends and family. At conclusions of all events, Herbert always stood to say his own favorite special prayer, the Shehecheyanu. He thanked God for giving us life and sustaining us. At the close of Herbert Barton’s life we say thank you for giving him life and sustaining him for 98 wonderful years. We were blessed!

Herbert is survived by his wife Sue Snyder Levy Barton, predeceased by his first wife Vera Levy Barton; survived by his daughter Barbara Barton Greenberg (Mark – deceased), and predeceased by his daughter, Leigh Barton Muller (Chip), and survived by his step-children Sherry Levy Mayer and Gus Levy. He is also survived by his loving grandchildren Mark Steven Greenberg Jr. (Niffer), Sean David Greenberg (Diana), Lauren Greenberg Wakeman (Devin), Daryl Andrew Muller (Bill), D. Channing Muller; and his step-grandchildren Rachel Levy Stephenson (Joshua) and Jennifer Levy Silver (David), Max Levy and Eliana Levy. He was also the great-grandfather of Mark S. Greenberg III, Adelle Greenberg, Charlie Greenberg, Will Greenberg, John Buis Greenberg, Parker Greenberg, Presley Greenberg, Barrett Wakeman and Connor Wakeman; and the step-great grandfather of Jacob Stephenson, Isaac Stephenson, and Rebecca Silver. Herbert is survived by two sisters, Evelyn Barton Joseph and Annette Barton Paige and predeceased by his sister Esther Barton Masur and his brother Louis Barton. He also leaves a wealth of devoted nieces and nephews in the Charles Levy clan, Barton and Snyder families with whom he remained close and who adored him.

Private family services will be held on Monday, January 25, 2021 at 11:00AM with interment in Hebrew Rest Cemetery II in New Orleans. Relatives and friends are invited to attend the services through Zoom at the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82254130968?pwd=S2JOQ1NPUUJRd0NpakduUEZlRllRUT09

In lieu of flowers, please send donations in honor of Herbert to Congregation Temple Sinai, 6227 St. Charles Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70118 or to Second Harvest Food Bank, 700 Edwards Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70123.

To view and sign the guest book, please visit www.lakelawnmetairie.com