Julian Beck Feibelman Jr.

Julian Beck Feibelman, Jr., a kind and gentle man, passed away on Monday, April 6, 2026, at his home in New Orleans after a courageous, ten-year battle with congestive heart failure. Born in New Orleans June 17, 1940, to Julian Beck Feibelman and Mary Anna Fellman Feibelman, he was a proud sixth-generation New Orleanian.

A graduate of Isidore Newman School, he obtained a BA from the University of Pennsylvania and, in addition to graduate work at New York University and Loyola University School of Law, he received an MA in Communications from Louisiana State University.

Prior to his retirement in 2006, he had a successful career running the largest regional advertising and public relations firm at the time, Un, Ltd.

Julian was a descendent of Jacob Lemann who arrived in New Orleans from Alsace-Lorraine in 1836, became a leader in the sugar and mercantile industries, and eminent in the New Orleans Jewish community. Julian’s father, Julian Beck Feibelman, Sr., was the rabbi at Temple Sinai in New Orleans for forty years and, in this capacity, was widely known as a vigorous champion and notable activist in the civil rights movement.

Julian was treasurer of the Audubon Park Commission for a number of years, instrumental in the transformation of the old Audubon Zoo into the world class facility it is today. He was also a Board Member of his beloved New Orleans Opera, WWNO Radio, the Touro Foundation, the Trinity Counseling Center, Loyola University Board of Visitors, Friends of Music, The United Fund, and a number of others.

Julian was beloved by many and was such a funny man – he could always provide a fast-paced quip that had his compatriots rolling on the floor with mirth. He received twenty-three weekly and monthly periodicals as well as several daily newspapers and was a well-informed and erudite conversationalist. An insatiable reader, he was reputed to have the largest private library in the City. He was a lifelong devotee of classical music, opera and jazz and an enthusiastic patron of performing arts of all stripes. Also prominent among his many interests was his world-class fountain pen collection built around family heirlooms and pieces found on frequent searches for what he deemed to be the most obscure offerings around the world.

He is survived by his devoted wife of 29-½ years, Joan von Kurnatowski Hooper, his children: Morgan Feibelman, MD, (Jeremy Epstein) of New Orleans; Ivy Feibelman (Heather Cole) of Portland, OR; and Beck Feibelman of New York, NY; two stepsons, seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

The family sends deep and loving thanks to Julian’s amazing caregivers: Frank Wilklow, MD; Linda Merrick, RN; Sue Singer, RN; Chastity Davis; Paula Sewell; Patrice Adams; Beverly Kyrkendall; Debra Collins; Interim Hospice; Cheri Pizani, RN; Monica Scarlett, RN; and Kristi Sabillion, RN; and Antoinette Pea.

Private services were held.

To view and sign the family's online guestbook and share your memories of Julian, please visit lakelawnmetairie.com

Should anyone wishing to send a memorial for Julian, please send to the charity of your choice or to: WYES-TV, [email protected]; New Orleans Opera, neworleansopera.org; Southern Poverty Law Center, secure.splcenter.org/donate; or Temple Sinai, templesinainola.com