Mrs. Nathalie Goldman Leon

Nathalie (Nat) Goldman Leon, 87, passed away September 2, 2010. Born October 13, 1922 to Abraham and Fannye Goldman, she was a lifelong resident of New Orleans before moving to San Antonio in 2005. She graduated cum laude from Loyola University in 1943 with a B.S. in Medical Technology.

Nat devoted her life to her family -- her beloved husband, Dr. William Leon, her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren -- and to the Jewish organizations that she served with energy, creativity and passion. 50 years ago, she and Will became charter members of what is now Shir Chadash Conservative Congregation. She was president of the Sisterhood, vice president of education, and served on the board of advisors and the volunteer choir. For 25 years, with close friend Frances Singerman, Nat co-wrote and produced skits for Mitzvah Donor Luncheon musicals. She was a member of the first Sisterhood B’not Mitzvah group and was vice president of the Southern Branch of Women’s League for Conservative Judaism, receiving its Torah Award.

In the broader New Orleans Jewish community, Nat was campaign chair of the Women’s Division of the Jewish Welfare Fund, advisor of Lemann-Stern Young Leadership Women’s Group, and past chairman of the board of Jewish Family Service. She was a board member of the National Association of Jewish Family and Children’s Agencies. A strong supporter of Israel, she and Will participated in several UJC missions to Israel.

Warm, caring and generous, Nat is remembered with love by her family and by her legion of friends in New Orleans whose lives she touched and enriched.

Preceding Nat in death were her husband, Dr. William Leon and son, Philip Leon. She is survived by her daughters, Renee Sabel of San Antonio and Kathy Rasner of Tel Aviv; grandchildren: Shelly Sabel and Jody Sabel of Brooklyn; Dara Foti (and husband Dr. Jeff Foti) of Phoenix; Talya Rasner and Yael Rasner of Tel Aviv; Adi Rasner of Beit Oren, Israel; Shira Leon of Chicago and Alicia Leon of Los Angeles; great-granddaughters Madeline Foti and Lola Foti of Phoenix; brother Dr. Dan Goldman of New Orleans and daughter-in-law Pam Leon of Columbus, Georgia. Services will be in Metairie on Sunday, September 5 at Shir Chadash Conservative Congregation, with visitation at 10:00 a.m. and services at 11:00, followed by burial at the Tikvat Shalom Cemetery in St.Rose. Donations can be made to Shir Chadash Conservative Congregation, 3737 W. Esplanade Ave., Metairie, LA 70002. Arrangements by Tharp-Sontheimer-Tharp, 1600 N. Causeway Blvd. 504-835-2341. Condolences may be expressed online at www.tharpsontheimer.com.