Mark Brian Herman

Mark, born and raised in New Orleans, was a proud graduate of both Fortier High School and Tulane University. At Fortier, class of 1962, he was a member of Sigma Alpha Rho and the National Honor Society, played percussion and timpani, and enjoyed swimming and track and field. He also, memorably, earned the title “Mr. Arms” in a bodybuilding competition. From an early age, Mark’s intellect, curiosity, and good looks opened doors wherever he went, allowing him to move easily among and be embraced by all corners of New Orleans life.

At Tulane University, Mark was the first Fortier graduate to join the Zeta Beta Tau fraternity. He graduated in 1966 and soon married Lisa Ann Schlesinger of New Orleans, with whom he raised two beloved daughters, Julie and Vicki. Mark and Lisa later divorced. After earning a law degree from Tulane Law School in 1969, Mark joined the family firm, Herman and Herman, where he focused on civil matters. Drawn to transactional work, he advised individuals and businesses, becoming a trusted counsel to many prominent New Orleans companies. Working closely with Shepard Latter, Mark joined Latter & Blum and became its president in 1975, serving until September 1979.

In 1977, Mark joined a small group of local investors in a civic-minded effort to support the National Basketball Association’s New Orleans Jazz, during the era of fan-favorite, “Pistol Pete” Maravich, remaining involved until the team’s departure in 1979. That same year, Mark was elected Chairman of the Vieux Carré Commission.

By 1982, Mark joined Westminster Corporation, where he helped develop several prominent properties in New Orleans, including 1010 Common, 1515 Poydras, 1615 Poydras, 1555 Poydras, 1750 St. Charles Avenue, and the Xerox building in Kenner. After leaving Westminster, Mark transitioned to the insurance industry and later founded Mark Herman Real Estate. In 1992 Mark married Catherine Lee. They later divorced.

Never one to approach his interests halfheartedly, Mark was an avid runner, supporter of the Crescent City Classic and later took up cycling. He immersed himself in dozens of hobbies, training field trial dogs, duck hunting, and photographing the Saints as an official photographer. Mark was always a passionate sport fisherman and could often be found away from the office on Serious Business. In later years, he embraced the open road, traveling by motorcycle or truck to destinations as far afield as Maine, Glacier National Park, the Four Corners region, the California coast, and the San Juan Islands.

Mark was quietly yet deeply committed to his Jewish identity, grounded in tikkun olam—repairing the world— by supporting local and national organizations and offering his time, counsel, and friendship to people from all backgrounds. In later years, as a self-taught cook, Mark joyfully spent countless hours preparing food, regularly sharing it at the Ochsner Infusion Lab where he courageously fought a five year battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia, with friends and neighbors, and at gatherings near and far, including a road trip to a post Katrina fundraiser in Vermont.

The family extends its deep gratitude to Dr. Carter Davis, Dr. Mark Berenson, the staff of the infusion lab at the Benson Cancer Center, Interim Healthcare, caregivers Jackie White, Darlene McDonald, Brenetta Smith, Alexis Jarrow, Betty Sanders, Dionne Webb, and dear friend and neighbor Dawn Maledoux for their unwavering care and love.

Mark is survived by his daughters, Julie Goldman (Gary) of Los Angeles and Vicki Evans (Craig) of New Orleans; his brother and sister in law, Shael and Helen Herman of Brookline, Massachusetts, his sister, Sherril Herman of New Orleans; his sister in law, Mollie Solomon Herman of New Orleans, loving nieces and nephews, and a multitude of adoring Herman cousins. He was preceded in death by his brother, Avram Charles Herman, and his nephew, Bernard Hirsch Herman. A man of many nicknames, Mark was proudest to be known as “Geezer” by his cherished grandchildren: Jenna Latter Goldman, Kate Bea Goldman, Jacob Joseph Amann, Marcie Trum Amann, Reina Evans-Paulson (Danny), and Haley Evans.

Private graveside services will be held Tuesday, April 14, at Chevra Thilim Memorial Park, 5000 Iberville Street, followed by a gathering of family and friends at 4:00 p.m. at Il Mercato, 1911 Magazine Street.

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

In lieu of flowers, blood donations may be made to the Ochsner Blood Bank. Memorials may be made in Mark’s name to Chabad Jewish Center of Metairie, bloodcancerunited.org or Jewish Children’s Regional Service.