Muriel Vivian Pinkus

Muriel Pinkus passed away on November 1, 2016. She was the beloved mother of Jonathan Pinkus and David Pinkus, mother-in-law of Lillian Pinkus and Carol Pinkus, grandmother to Aaron and Pamela Pinkus, Jared and Samantha Pinkus, Justin Pinkus and Tami and Ken Horn, and great grandmother of Tara Rose Pinkus and Hunter and Hudsyn Horn. Muriel was an integral part of the Dallas Jewish community for over 60 years. She, along with her late husband of 72 years Ralph, made many contributions to the cultural landscape of Dallas through the North Haven Gardens and the Dallas Arboretum, and helped move the Jewish community forward through her work with the ADL by fighting religious and racial prejudice.

Muriel was born in New York City on October 18, 1920. After she graduated from Hunter college, she married Ralph Pinkus on February 1, 1942. Shortly after their marriage they moved to Guatemala where Ralph managed a quinine plantation for Merck Pharmaceuticals during World War II. They spent seven years in Guatemala and moved to Dallas in 1950. In Dallas they started North Haven Gardens where they worked together to make the business a success. It became a true family business with the involvement of both sons and daughters-in law. Even today, two of her Grandsons operate separate aspects of the business.

Muriel was a strong believer in community involvement. She was active in the League of Women Voters, the Dallas Council on World Affairs, the Anti-Defamation League and the American Israel Political Action Committee (AIPAC).

She was an active member of Congregation Shearith Israel and Temple Emanuel. She studied her faith, taught Sunday School and was an advocate of interdenominational activities. In recent years while living at the Legacy at Willow Bend she actively participated in religious and educational activities.

She was active in the North Dallas Chamber of Commerce as a Board member and Chair of the Education Committee. This allowed her to advocate for educational excellence in the DISD.

Perhaps her greatest volunteer passion was her interfaith work. Muriel was a long serving member of the Board of Directors of Thanksgiving Square and coordinated numerous interfaith activities there. She worked tirelessly to build bridges between members of all faiths. She believed that each person could hold their own faith dear so long as no one was elevated above another. She believed in peace through understanding. Muriel was profiled in The Dallas Morning News for her interfaith achievements.

Funeral services will be held today, November 3rd at 12:00 pm at the Chapel at Sparkman-Hillcrest (7405 W Northwest Hwy, Dallas, TX 75225).