Community mourns ‘beautiful spirit’, Susan Farb Morris

Kind, caring, creative and dynamic, with a beautiful mind, a huge heart and a loving soul, these were some of the words and phrases her friends used to describe Susan Farb Morris after the news of his tragic death shocked the Jewish community of Houston on June 14.

Morris was spending Father’s Day weekend in Galveston with her husband, David, her children and grandchildren when she died following a tragic and significant fall and resulting complications. She was 68 years old.

Funeral services officiated by Rabbi Pamela Silk and Cantor Rollin Simmons will be held on Monday, June 17 at 1 p.m., inside the Barish Sanctuary of Congregation Emanu El, followed by interment at Emanu El Memorial Park. Shiva will be held at the Morris home in Bellaire, Monday through Thursday at 6 p.m.

“None of us can imagine our community without Susan,” said Dee Dee Dochen, a longtime close friend. “Susan was the most amazing and effective dot connector on the planet, with insatiable curiosity and both mental and spiritual genius.

“His joy came from creating joy for others. His enjoyment came from connecting with people and maintaining those connections for years. Her enthusiasm came from her always creative ideas that almost made her jump up and down with the ah-ha of the perfect solution.

“Above all, Susan was a generous and devoted daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and lifelong friend to so many.”

Morris, affectionately known as “The Public Relations Fairy,” was the founder and president of Susan Farb Morris Public Relations. A Houston native, member of Congregation Emanu El and graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, Morris has worked in the world of public relations for five decades.

Morris was a tireless advocate for local causes, the arts, the Jewish community and the inclusion of people with disabilities. She also shared her energy, enthusiasm, and love with everyone around her, often sending creative birthday wishes to friends and family.

Professionally, Morris has specialized in promoting Houston businesses and events, real estate, retail, and non-profit agencies and events, and has often been described by her clients as “far-fetched.” for her thoughtful and creative media skills.

Her public relations experience was extensive, as she represented jewelry stores, sporting outfitters, major art and classical music festivals, rock and oldies radio stations, and hosts of nonprofit organizations and events. non-profit and real estate developers.

Morris has worked with countless organizations and nonprofits in Houston and the Jewish community, including Alexander Jewish Family Service, Interfaith Ministries of Greater Houston, and Second Servings of Houston.

“Susan was kind, generous, creative, caring, fun and beautiful, inside and out,” said Barbara Bronstein, who cherished Morris as a friend and for her volunteer service and support of Second Servings of Houston.

Three years ago, Bronstein and Second Servings worked with Morris on one of Morris’ countless creative ways to make a difference in the community.

To celebrate her mother Sylvia Farb’s 95th birthday, Morris and her sisters worked with Bronstein and Second Servings to feed 95 families in need.

What happened was a morning of food rescues filling one of the refrigerated vans with nearly 2,000 pounds of food to feed food-insecure families.

“This is a tragic and devastating loss for all who knew her, as well as the many people who did not know her, who were helped by her dedicated volunteer service and support of Second Servings of Houston.

“Cherish every moment. Life is fragile.

Morris began working in public relations in the late 1970s, started his own firm with a business partner in the mid-1980s, and launched Susan Farb Morris Public Relations in 1990, focusing on media relations in Houston.

Some of its most notable clients included the Lancaster Hotel, Bayou City Art Festival, MasterWord Global Language Solutions, Powers Brown Architecture, Sun & Ski Sports, San Jacinto Girl Scouts, TIRR/Mission Connect and a benefit concert featuring starring Kinky Friedman at the Grand 1894. Opera.

In 2018, Houston Woman Magazine named Morris one of the “50 Most Influential Women in Houston.”

“Susan has had a profound impact on our community,” JCC Board Chair Debbie Diamond told Evelyn Rubenstein at JHV. “Susan’s radiant smile, framed by her crown of silver hair, lit up every room she entered.

“A big day for Susan was when the power of her Facebook posts connected people with shared passions, fostered partnerships and supported Houston’s nonprofits. Her creative ideas enhanced every event she attended, including at the ERJCC where she championed arts and cultural programming for years, including the Jewish Book and Arts Festival.

“Susan was also a treasured friend, always there with unwavering support and hospitality. His life is a testament to the profound impact one person can have on their community. Her absence leaves a void that will be deeply felt by all those who were lucky enough to know her.

Even with such an extensive resume, Morris was most proud of her work within the Jewish community, including her great partnership with Alexander JFS, whose board she has served since 2018, and the ReelAbilities Film and Arts Festival, where she was chair in 2019.

Even after fulfilling her leadership role at ReelAbilities, she never missed a Festival event. In 2020, Morris and Dochen received the President’s Award in recognition of their leadership at the Festival.

“Susan had a true gift for making everyone she interacted with feel special,” Carl Josehart, CEO of Alexander JFS, told JHV. “Susan was passionate about amplifying and celebrating the work of others while rarely putting herself in the spotlight.

“Rarely a day would go by without an email from Susan introducing us to someone from her extensive network of personal and professional contacts, someone who she believed could help us advance the agency’s mission.

“Alexander JFS is extremely grateful that we have had the honor of having Susan on our Board of Directors, cherishing her ideas, creativity, refined attitude and dedication to community service.”

Morris was a board member of Congregation Emanu El’s Aubrey and Sylvia Farb Community Fund, which created an invaluable outreach to underfunded community organizations in need of start-up funds.

Morris also served on Interfaith Ministries’ IMpower Steering Committee and the JCC Book and Arts Festival and Arts and Culture Steering Committee.

Marilyn Hassid had the privilege of working with Morris at the J.

“Susan was a creative thinker, bringing together many friends and admirers not only to work together, but to create together,” Hassid told JHV. “Susan encouraged and, in fact, facilitated the expansion of our programs beyond the Jewish community.

“She firmly believed that the J, with its strong arts and cultural programming, needed, and in fact should, partner with many of Houston’s general community arts organizations, identifying common missions and ways to interpret them collaboratively. »

Like many in Morris’ life, she and Hassid also became friends away from the J.

“A while ago, Susan called me and asked if I knew an artist named Debra Band,” Hassid said. “Of course, we had exhibited Debra’s beautiful work at the J on several occasions and had become very good friends. Sadly, Susan’s daughter married Debra’s son.

“Last February, Susan and I took a road trip to Waco to surprise Debra, whose new work, “Qohelet (Ecclesiastes) In Search of a Life Worth Living,” was opening. With Debra, it was a trip we will always remember.

Hundreds of tributes were posted on social media hours after the family announced Morris’ death.

“There are no words to describe the beauty of Susan Farb Morris’s spirit and the magnitude of her impact on our community,” said former JCC President Lauren Kaufman Blachman. “All of us who loved him are shocked and devastated.”

Jill Kaplan applauded Morris’ sense of community: “Susan was a true connector with a deep passion for building community and her loss will leave a huge void in the hearts of those who knew her, in the community Jewish and in Houston as a whole.

“His legacy will be a blessing for many years to come.” »

Morris is survived by her husband, David Morris; his two daughters, Hannah and Shara; sons-in-law, Gabi and David; and his two grandsons, Micah and Lior. She is also survived by her mother, Sylvia Farb; his sisters, Hélène Scolnick, Roberta Colton and Loretta Farb; as well as several nephews, nieces and cousins.

“The best gift we can give her and her family is to become a better person because of her – and to make kindness an intentional, everyday act,” Dochen said.

“May Susan’s influence live on forever through her family, her community and through the countless people whose lives she touched. She would be so thrilled that all her pixie dust particles would create so much magic.

Read Susan Farb Morris’ full obituary in this week’s JHV.