Esther Shava Powerstein Saks

Esther Shava Powerstein Saks
31st March 1930 - 18th September 2023
Esther Shava Powerstein Saks, educator, gallerist, arts and artists advocate, social justice leader, philanthropist, and the most inquisitive person you will meet, died surrounded by the love of her family on September 18, 2023, at the age of 93. She, with her sister Shirley, was the first generation in her family to attend college. Her parents were Eastern European immigrants who worked to provide a happy, safe life in the United States, where she and her sister exceeded their parents' wildest expectations.
Esther was born and raised in Milwaukee, and her jitterbug dance card was always full. At a time when most of her generation was focused on getting married, she finished art school in 1948 and chose to drive across the country for three months with a few female friends to feed her growing wanderlust. Only after meeting the charismatic and fiery Alan Saks and teaching as a public school art teacher in Appleton, Wis., she decided to marry him and move to his hometown of Chicago. Her swan song to Appleton was publically signing an oppositional notice against Sen. Joe MacCarthy's anti-communist hearings on Unamerican Activities – a dangerous act as a single woman and an intellectual Jew with ties to the University and lefty politics.
They lived in Chicago and, together, expanded a family paint and hardware business, SAXON, into a national chain, with Esther early on spending weekends as a secret shopper in competitor's stores. Soon after their marriage, she fulfilled a lifelong dream of becoming a mother, having four girls, her "little chicks," as she called them -- Ruth, Beth (Scott Fithian), Jane (Emma Ruby-Sachs), and Naomi (John Parker). She and Alan lived a fabulously large life of social justice and civil rights. With an exceptional sense of style and design, she was at the forefront of collecting Danish and Mid-century Modern furnishings, modern ceramics and sculptures, and the art of indigenous people of the Americas and Africa. After Alan died in 2005, Esther continued to travel, throwing large parties, attending cultural happenings, and engaging in heated conversations about the world and her role in it with a wide circle of friends and family. Always a gourmet, her license plates read: EAT FIRST. The Saks's great joy was spending time with family, especially their grandchildren, Sam Murray (Ali Murray), Sarah Saks-Fithian, and more recently, Esmé and Elodie Ruby Saks.
Esther loved the outdoors and skiing, hiking, horseback riding, pilates, and sailing the boat she captained. She spent some of her favorite time with family and friends in Beverly Shores, Indiana Dunes, with over 60 years of incredible activism to save the lake and lakefront and long family days of riding horses, cooking outside, adventures, and fabulous imaginative projects.
Esther founded The Esther Saks Gallery in 1983. The gallery was one of the first in the country to exhibit art made with traditional craft materials as fine arts. Esther launched and supported the careers of dozens of artists who have won awards such as MacArthur Fellowships, Guggenheims, and Tiffany Awards. Supporting many significant social and political movements, she enlisted her gallery and resources to take stands visibly – including pro-choice, voters' rights, the integration of the Chicago Public Schools, civil rights, access, and equity, the LGBTQ struggle, many many political campaigns and election efforts. She and Alan were honored to be named by President Nixon to his blacklist because of their impactful work against the Vietnam War.
Esther helped found the Chicago Women's Leadership Charter School, co-founded the Northlight Theatre, and was a founding board member of WBEZ/NPR. She received social justice leadership awards from the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs and the ACLU.
Esther inspired many by word and action with her passion for ideas, learning, and never-ending love of living a full and vibrant life.
Please contact Goldman Funeral Group at 847- 478 - 1600 for information regarding Shiva/visitation this coming Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday - September 26, 27 and 28.
There will be a festive party to celebrate the life of Esther Saks scheduled in the near future, date and time to be announced. Call Goldman Funeral Group after October 16th for the date. In place of flowers, the family welcomes you to make a contribution in Esther's name to one of the two following organizational funds:
1. The Esther S. Saks Lecture Series, Chicago Humanities Festival

2. Impact for Equity (Formerly BPI: Business and Professional People for the Public Interest) Please add a note with your donation that it is in support of the Alan Saks Public Interest Internship Program