Ouachita County Louisiana Archives Obituaries.....MINTZ, SAUL A. September 15, 2012
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News Star World - September 18, 2012
SAUL A. MINTZ

Saul A. Mintz was born October 26, 1931 in New Orleans, LA and died September 
15, 2012 in Monroe, LA at the age of 80.

There have been many adjectives used to describe Saul Mintz, but his essence 
can be summed up in the Yiddish word "Mensch", which literally translates 
as "Human Being". Simply, a mensch is a person who is upstanding, worthy and 
honorable. Saul represented all of these qualities and many more.

An architect by training, Saul loved to create. He used his skills to design 
and build things that brought him joy and that he thought would make the world 
a better place for others. He constructed structures of brick and mortar, but 
he found it most fulfilling when using his time, energy and creative mind to 
build bridges between people and ideas to enhance the development of 
community, organizations and family. He created with purpose and his aim 
was "build to last". Those he touched along the way often were changed-- 
remodeled, stronger and better for having known and been involved with him.

Saul spoke with awe about his parents. His father, who in 1920 at the age of 
26 immigrated to New Orleans from Russia before his untimely death at the age 
of 52, founded Hurwitz-Mintz Furniture Co. His mother, the grounding force of 
the family, also immigrated to New Orleans from Russia in 1921 at the age of 
17. Growing up with his three elder siblings in New Orleans, Saul learned the 
importance of family and the value of life-long friendships. At a young age 
Saul recognized his good fortune to have been raised and educated in this land 
of magnificent opportunity. From his parents' example he learned that rewards 
would come through hard work combined with thoughtful planning and a little 
good luck. Saul also knew that it was his responsibility to give back to his 
community, to help make the world a better place and to contribute what he 
could to assure that this country would continue to be a land of opportunity 
for others.

Saul graduated from Isidore Newman School in New Orleans and then entered the 
Tulane School of Architecture. After graduation, he married his beloved 
college sweetheart, Jean Strauss of Monroe. He served as a Second Lieutenant 
in the US Air Force then returned to New Orleans to begin work as an 
architect. In 1955 Saul was asked by his father-in-law, Clifford Strauss, to 
join his business, F. Strauss & Son, Inc. -- a wholesale distributor of 
grocery products and alcoholic beverages. He and his family relocated to 
Monroe where he eventually became the company's Chairman and CEO. During 
Saul's business career he developed a number of properties in Monroe and the 
surrounding area. Most prominent among them are Northgate, Eastgate and Twin 
City Plaza shopping centers. In 1979 Saul co-founded Sunbelt Manufacturing, 
Inc, a manufacturer of plastic products that is now a division of Berry 
Plastics. He was also proud to serve for many years as a Director of Central 
Bank and subsequently First Commerce Corp, New Orleans.

Saul immediately fell in love with Monroe for its beauty, warm people and 
quality of life and quickly became involved in numerous civic organizations 
and endeavors. Among these, he served as Chairman of Monroe Chamber of 
Commerce; Carolyn Rose Rehabilitation Center; Sunbelt Manufacturing, Inc. and 
St Francis Medical Center. He also served as President of: The United Way of 
Northeast Louisiana; ULM Booster Club; and ULM Foundation. He served as a 
Board Member of: LSU Health Sciences-S; Tulane President's Council; Tulane 
School of Architecture; LA Committee for Humanities; American Red Cross; and 
Twin Cities YMCA. Saul was also instrumental in the establishment and growth 
of the Carolyn Rose Strauss Senior Center-- home to the Ouachita Council on 
Aging, The Food Bank of Northeast Louisiana, the Strauss Theatre Center and 
many other organizations and projects.

Saul's Jewish faith was an important component in his life. As a member and 
past Vice President of Temple B'Nai Israel, Saul worked with others to 
establish its endowment fund. He and Jean together served on the founding 
boards of the Jewish Endowment Foundation of New Orleans, The Institute of 
Southern Jewish Life, and the Southern Institute for Education and Research, 
which is dedicated to improving ethnic relations through tolerance education 
and communications training. In more recent years Saul joined the board of 
directors of the Jewish Outreach Institute based in New York and, together 
with Jean, he was instrumental in the funding and building of Tulane Hillel's 
Goldie and Morris Mintz Center for Jewish Life.

Saul never approached his undertakings with the expectation or desire for 
accolades. Yet over the years he was the recipient of numerous honors 
including: the Monroe Chamber's Rambin-Silverstein "Citizen of the Year" 
Award; the United Way's Alexis de Tocqueville Society Award; the Beta Gamma 
Sigma Honor Society; the Jewish Endowment Foundation's Tzedakah Award; the 
Tulane Emeritus Club's Outstanding Alumnus Award; and the ADL Torch of Liberty 
Award.

Saul is preceded in death by his parents, Goldie Goldblum Mintz and Morris 
Mintz, his brother Ellis Mintz, his sister Bella Mintz Goldberg and his 
beloved in-laws, Roselyn and Clifford Strauss.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Jean Strauss Mintz; brother Albert 
Mintz and wife, Linda of New Orleans; sisters-in-law, Elaine Levy Mintz of New 
Orleans and Peggy Strauss Greenbaum and husband, Jim Greenbaum of Rancho 
Mirage, CA; children, Morris Mintz and wife, Melinda, Carolyn Kaplan and 
husband, Jay of Houston, TX and Sally Mann and husband, Anthony of Greenwich, 
CT; and his grandchildren; Mark Mintz and wife, Jennifer, Clifford and Sarah 
Mintz, Glynn, Layne and Jack Kaplan, Alexandra, Isabelle, Strauss and Georgia 
Mann; great granddaughter, Lillian Mintz; and a score of adored nieces and 
nephews.

The family would like to acknowledge Leo Moy, Dorothy Nation, Cora Cosby and 
Saul's entire Strauss Interests family. These were people very special to Saul 
as they surrounded and supported his daily home and work life. In addition, 
the family is grateful to the numerous individuals and medical professionals 
who gave such wonderful care to Saul during his final months, especially Drs. 
Herschel Harter, Bernie McHugh, Rolf Morstead, Mark Napoli and Frank Weinholt. 
The family also offers special thanks to Chester King and Gwynn Williams for 
their invaluable, personal devotion to Saul's care, healing and comfort.

In lieu of flowers, the family request donations to Temple B'Nai Israel 
Endowment Fund, Ouachita Council on Aging, Food Bank of Northeast LA, Strauss 
Theater Center, Tulane Hillel or a charity of your choice.

Visitation will be held from 4:00 PM until 7:00 PM, Wednesday, September 19, 
2012, at Kilpatrick Funeral Home of Monroe.

A memorial service will be held honoring Saul's life at 2:00 PM, Thursday, 
September 20, 2012 at Temple B'nai Israel, 2400 Orell Pl. Monroe, LA.

Of all Saul's creations, the one of which he was most proud was his family. As 
he learned from his parents, he taught his own children, grandchildren, nieces 
and nephews by example. This is his legacy and he created it with purpose, and 
he "built it to last".


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