Helen Brody Rieser

Helen Brody Rieser was born June 3, 1939 to Samuel Erwin Brody and Lee Abelman Brody. She was a fourth generation Atlantan who attended Morningside Elementary School and Henry Grady High School. She went to Harcum Junior College in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania.

While a junior in high school, she was selected for the Rich’s Teen Board as a representative of Henry Grady High School (now Midtown High School). She continued to serve on the Teen Board throughout high school. During college she represented her school in a national model hunt, as well as in an article for Glamour Magazine. She was on the College Boards for JP Allen’s Department Store and also for Leon Froshin’s.

She returned to Atlanta where she modeled for the renowned Sol Kent of Rich’s Department Store and was in his legendary annual Fashionata. She also started work as the Fashion Coordinator for the newly opened Rich’s at Lenox Square in 1959.

She married John Charles Rieser, MD in 1961. They enjoyed travel and saw many incredible sights around the world. They would often pick a favorite place and rent a home for a month at a time.

Early in her married life she was encouraged by her husband’s uncle, Richard H. Rich, to get involved in the Atlanta community, and so she did. She served on numerous boards including The Atlanta College of Art, The Woodruff Arts Center, the High Museum of Art, the National Council of Jewish Women, the Kidney Foundation of Georgia, The Atlanta Center for Puppetry Arts, the Georgia Board of the National Women of the Arts, and the American Jewish Committee. She was a member of the Leadership Atlanta class of 1978-79 and was an active member and volunteer with the Forward Arts Foundation for decades. She chaired many fundraisers and galas throughout the years, including the Renaissance Ball MCMLXIX, the first Tara Auction for the Atlanta College of Art (live on WSB), the first Annual Beaux Arts Ball for the Atlanta College of Art, the first High Museum Wine Auction, and L’Esprit de Picasso for the High Museum of Art which she co-chaired with her daughter, Robyn Barkin.

She was known for her beauty, and in fact was featured on the cover of Atlanta Magazine twice: once as a “Legendary Beauty of Atlanta” in 1962, and for a story about “The Glamorous Twenty” of Atlanta in 1985. She had impeccable style and taste. She appreciated beauty in so many forms: in fashion and clothing, in homes and decorative arts, in the arts and museums of the world. Her Atlanta home and her Cashiers home were featured in Southern Accents magazine.

She was predeceased by John, her husband of 65 years. She is survived by her children Robyn Rieser Barkin (Tom) of Atlanta and David Rieser of Sydney, Australia, and four grandchildren, Sam Barkin (May Melton) of New York, Katie Barkin of Boston, Jessica Rieser of Sydney, Australia, and Jacob Rieser of Sydney, Australia, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

The family would like to thank the many people who helped her in her final year: Brendetta Ford and the amazing caregivers at The Pearl at East Cobb, Mark Schmetterer and the other caregivers at Gentiva Hospice, Melissa Hyatt of Premier Care Management of Georgia, and so many others.

A funeral will be held on Tuesday, September 8 at 11:00 am at The Temple, 1589 Peachtree Street, followed by a reception.

The family will hold Shiva on Tuesday evening, 5:30-8:30, at the residence of Robyn and Tom Barkin.

In lieu of flowers, those who wish to make a donation may consider The High Museum of Art, the Forward Arts Foundation, or a charity of their choice.