Albert Lidji

Lidji, Albert Albert was born on December 14, 1921, in Cairo, Egypt. He died in Dallas on June 16th at 89 from complications after a recent stroke. His family in Egypt was part of the large Sephardic Jewish community there and it owned the luxury emporium Maison Gattegno named for his mother's family. Housed in the former Au Printemps department store, it sold furniture and gifts. At 19, Albert added ladies ready-to-wear, taking frequent buying trips to Paris, foreshadowing his career later in life. Almost 800,000 Egyptian Jews survived World War II, but after the Israeli War of Independence in 1948, Egypt nationalized all Jewish property, including Maison Gattegno. Albert and his first wife, Nicole Cohenca Lidji, became refugees and fate brought them to Dallas in 1951 where they settled and raised their family. In Dallas, he transformed Lou Lattimore, a sleepy suburban dress shop on Lovers Lane, into an iconic Dallas specialty store with an international reputation. Albert was the perfect gentleman -- elegant and affable -- and the roster of designers he showcased at Lou Lattimore reads like a Who's Who in the history of late 20th Century fashion: Norman Norell; Halston; Giorgio Armani; Roberto Capucci; and Christian Dior. Many, like Stephen Sprouse and Carolina Herrera, got their very first orders from the store. In 1981 Albert married Martha Gaylord, then an actress in New York and Yale Drama School graduate. He is survived by Martha, his loving wife of 30 years; his three sons and their spouses, Alan Lidji and Shari, Brian Lidji and Fay, and Craig Lidji and Delise; the mother of his sons, Nicole Lidji; his six grandchildren - Eric, Sophie and Sadie Lidji; Barrett, Caroline and Nick Lidji; his brother Jacques Lidji and wife Betty; and numerous loving nephews and nieces. A memorial service will be held at Temple Emanu-El, 8500 Hillcrest, on Monday June 20, at 3pm. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the charity of the donor's choice in Albert's name.