Alvin K. Halpern

Alvin K. Halpern, age 85, died Sunday, January 17, 2016, at Ochsner Foundation Hospital. He was the beloved husband of Theone Millman Halpern, and father of Jenifer Halpern, Doriane Schulman (Jack), Edward Halpern (Joelle). Grandfather of Dana Tune (Billy), Adrienne Lazar, Hillary Schulman, Charlotte and Hannah Halpern. Great grandfather of Will Tune. Brother of Sandra Pailet, Elliot Halpern (Linda) and Herbert Halpern (Jackie Bishop). Halpern was an Eagle Scout, a member of Troop 0011, started January 26, 1945.He was a native and lifelong resident of New Orleans and graduate of Tulane University in 1951, and a U.S. Air Force Sergeant stationed in Albuquerque, N.M., during the Korean Conflict. He started his own New Orleans-based business, Halpern's Fabrics, in 1957 At its peak, Halpern's operated 52 stores in 26 cities throughout the Southeast USA. The stores were located from Atlanta to Houston and Memphis to Pensacola. In 1976, he closed Halpern's Fabrics to develop a new company, Halpern's The Home Furnishings Store & Cafe. His new company opened in July 1977 with a prototype store for the Swedish Furniture company IKEA. From humble beginnings, this prototype store evolved into one of New Orleans' premier furniture retailers, as well as manufacturers. He successfully purchased the former Coca-Cola Bottling plant on South Jefferson Davis Parkway in late 2000. After an extensive renovation, the vacant plant was set up as a world class CNC-driven manufacturing line for furniture. Alvin joined the New Orleans Young Presidents Organization when he was 30 years old and transitioned to the World Presidents Organization in his late 60's where he was still an active member. To help the fledgling tourism industry in the early 1980's, he founded the Louisiana Tax Free concept and wrote the language that set this program in motion. He also raised funds for, and ordered the study by Festival Productions, that led to the creation of the Essence Music Festival. In addition, he helped found and create the New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation to promote tourism in the Greater New Orleans region. With the hard work of his wife, he opened The Prytania Park Hotel in 1982, a 62-room European Courtyard style hotel. He was a former Board Member of The Greater New Orleans Tourism and Convention Commission, now the Convention and Visitors Bureau, an original member and founder of the New Orleans Tourism and Marketing Corporation. He was also a longtime member of Touro Synagogue and most recently Congregation Gates of Prayer. Funeral services will be held at Gates of Prayer Synagogue, 4000 W. Esplanade Avenue, Metairie, LA, on Wednesday, January 20, 2016, at 2:00 PM, with visitation beginning at 1:00 PM. Rabbi Robert Loewy will officiate, with interment in Gates of Prayer Cemetery (Joseph Street). Condolences may be expressed online at www.tharpsontheimerfh.com. Tharp-Sontheimer-Tharp of Metairie is in charge of arrangements. Information, (504) 835-2341. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Ochsner Cancer Institute, where Alvin was a patient in the Hematology Department.