Hortense Mound

Hortense Feldman Mound died peacefully in her home in New York City on December 27, 2020, at the age of 108 years old. Beloved wife of the late Maurice Mound and mother of the late Peter Mound and loving grandmother of Juliette Mound. Her burial will take place at Brant Lake Cemetery on August 3rd in a private ceremony.

Raised in New York City, as the only child of Romanian immigrants, she was surrounded by a large extended family who came to the United States at the turn of the 20th century. From childhood, Hortense was driven by a passion to learn and valued the pursuit of knowledge. She graduated from Barnard College and Columbia Law School, which later honored her for her trailblazing achievements as one the first women to attend in the 1930’s.

After graduating from Barnard, Hortense served in the administration of Mayor La Guardia; he appointed her Markets Commissioner where she held daily radio broadcasts on commodity prices. Mayor La Guardia officiated her marriage to Maurice Mound, also a Columbia Law School graduate. As a lawyer, Hortense’s work spanned corporate law, insurance, real estate, and trusts & estates. Later, Hortense was proud to serve on the New York State Bar Association. Among her accomplishments, as Chairman of the Committee on Revision of Criminal Law in the 1970’s, she was instrumental in changing how the law treated alcoholism and other victimless crimes, viewing acts as problems of health conditions, not criminal offenses. Hortense strove to engage viewpoints from many angles and develop creative solutions.

Married for over 60 years, Hortense and Maury were happy companions, sharing a deep love and friendship. Hortense and Maurice enjoyed spending time together and with friends, taking in excitement of culture in New York City and immersing themselves in the peaceful, natural beauty at their home in the Adirondacks. In her 60’s, Hortense took on a new role as a grandmother who joyfully raised her granddaughter into adulthood. She was completely devoted, and they remained very close until the end of her life. Hortense will be remembered as a remarkable woman who combined fortitude, intellect, humor, and love for her family.