Marilyn Hirschberg Gall

1945 - 2025

Marilyn Hirschberg Gall

October 25, 1945 - June 23, 2025

Lexington, Kentucky - Marilyn Hirschberg Gall, 79, born October 25, 1945, in Cincinnati, Ohio, died peacefully in her home, after a courageous battle against cancer, on June 23, 2025, in Lexington, Kentucky, where she resided for six decades.

The daughter of Ira and Lillian Hirschberg, Marilyn was a hard-working, fiercely independent, and energetic woman who threw herself into everything she did. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Kentucky and went on to earn an MBA from the University of Kentucky while she was raising two kids. She then built a decades-long career in healthcare management, where she brought intelligence, discipline, and a deep sense of responsibility to every role she held.

Marilyn loved to cook and entertain, often agonizing for weeks over the perfect menu. She had a true passion for food: she could recall, with vivid delight (and sometimes a sharp critique), nearly every meal she ever enjoyed, savoring the memory as much as the meal itself. She also spent many years decorating extravagant cakes for friends' birthday parties, bar and bat mitzvahs, and weddings. Each cake was a work of art. Her other passion was attending art fairs, where she could spend hours going from booth to booth, admiring the artisanal jewelry in particular.

In retirement, Marilyn continued to live with intention and care. She became a Master Gardener and, as an homage to her mother, worked in her yard, creating a spectacular garden. She also dedicated herself to volunteer work with numerous community organizations, including Altrusa International of Lexington and Ashland Terrace, where she had been a board member for many years. One of her favorite acts of service was decorating birthday cakes for children in need, a small but joyful expression of her generosity and warmth.

She is survived by her two sons, Phillip Gall (Allison Zivin) of New York, New York, and Andrew Gall of Lexington; her grandchildren, Jamie and Adam, of New York, New York; and her sister, Ruth Christos, of Hendersonville, North Carolina. Marilyn was formerly married to Steven Gall of Lexington.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in her memory to Altrusa International of Lexington, Ashland Terrace, or the charity of your choice.

May her memory be a blessing.