Paula Jarrett

Paula Richman Jarrett completed her journey on September 29, 2012 in the loving presence of her devoted family. Born on August 21, 1945 to Marion and Bernard Richman, Paula debuted in Ventura, California while her father continued his service in the US Navy. Both of Paula's parents have predeceased her, but she leaves her cherished daughters, Jennifer Ann Jarrett of San Francisco, California and Hillary Jarrett Millikin and her husband, Craig, of Austin, Texas. And with her daughters, Paula leaves her much loved granddaughters, Georgia Ann Millikin and Julia Cameron Millikin who will forever carry forward her zest for life, her will to finish all she started, and her love of all things beautiful. Continuing to remember Paula and reflect on her courageous commitment to rise to any challenge with focus and energy, are her former husband, Alan Jarrett, M.D., her brother, Jeffrey Richman and his wife Martha and her nephew, Gregory Richman; her sister-in-law, Ann and her husband, Paul Siegel and their children, Michael and Robin Siegel, and Alison and Adam Grossman and their daughter, Paula's grandniece, Sophie Grossman.
Paula grew up enjoying sunny days in Miami, Florida, and graduated from Coral Gables High School in 1963. She attended the University of Florida receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration in 1967. As a young wife of an aspiring doctor, she traveled to Memphis for his continuing medical education and then to Los Angeles and a UCLA teaching hospital for Alan's internship. Neither had ever been to Texas, when a residency at Baylor College of Medicine brought them to Houston in 1970. Their daughters were born in 1970 and 1971 and after living in Houston for three years, Paula and Alan decided they didn't want to leave. They had grown to love Houston.
Paula enriched her life and those around her as she enjoyed her girls and all their activities and sporting events. Sitting on those benches, watching the teams come up against each other, Paula forged friendships with other parents that have never been forgotten. These are amongst her fondest memories.
As her girls grew, Paula embarked on an exciting adventure, she taught herself to be a home builder and built and sold four houses. Her love and study of architecture led her to admire the architecture of Arthur Koch and with him, she and Alan built their extraordinary home on a heavenly lot filled with azaleas. The best thing about the house was watching her daughters grow into mature, responsible women.
Fulfilling her commitment to help support the arts in Houston, Paula joined the Houston Symphony League in 1983, and in 1993 she received the Ellen Kelley Volunteer of the Year Award. After providing strong leadership in virtually every position the League had to offer, she capped off her generous support of the Houston Symphony as HSL President from 2002-2003.
With a heart filled with sympathy, love, and concern, Paula devoted a great deal of energy and time to key organizations in the city focusing on the care of others and research for cures. Responding to the devastating effects of diabetes on dear friends and their families, Paula served on the Board of Directors of the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation for ten years. She also served for over ten years as a trustee for the Oncology Services Foundation. The Oncology Services Foundation operates exclusively to support the Ronald McDonald House, Houston. In 1997, Paula co-chaired the Doors to Discovery, raising funds to support the Linda and Ronald Finger Lupus Research Center at Baylor College of Medicine. For her generous and continuing leadership to Houston, Paula was named one of Houston's Women of Distinction in 2004.
From 2001-2011, Paula Jarrett served as the Administrator of the University of Houston Bauer College of Business Foundation. Her professional and thorough commitment to the Foundation and its Board helped the organization grow significantly during her ten year tenure.
In spending time with her daughters and granddaughters, traveling with friends, playing bridge with friends, preparing extraordinary meals, beautifully served, for friends, Paula has received immense gratification. She has reflected on how her family and friends of many years have enriched her life and have enhanced her journey, but in, truth, she has enriched the lives of all with whom she has come to know. And in the end, it is her children, whom she loves above all, that mean everything. Paula Jarrett's life will be celebrated at Congregation Beth Israel, 5600 North Braeswood Blvd., Houston, TX. 77096 on Wednesday October 3, 2012 at 10:30am. There will be a private internment for the family.
Paula Jarrett and her family wish to acknowledge with deep gratitude, Dr. Guillermo Garcia-Manero, Dr. Richard Champlin and the staff of the Leukemia Department at The University of Texas MD Anderson Hospital. Should one desire to make a contribution in her honor and in her memory, in lieu of flowers, please consider the research efforts of Dr. Guillermo Garcia-Manero at MD Anderson Cancer Center, P.O. Box 4486, Houston, TX. 77210-4486 or the charity of your choice.