Elise M. Saab

Elise Marie Saab went to be with the Lord on June 22, 2023, after a hard fought, and valiant nearly two-year battle with cancer. She was born in New Orleans, Louisiana to Elaine and Anthony George (A.G.), on their wedding anniversary, February 25, 1977. The youngest of three girls, Elise grew up with her sisters, Emily, and Elizabeth. After relocating to Dallas, Texas as a teenager, she graduated from Highland Park High School in 1995 and went on to attend The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she earned a dual Bachelor of Arts Degree in Anthropology and Business. She also held double master’s degrees in Art History and Liberal Arts from Harvard University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.

Shortly after graduating from Harvard, Elise oversaw program strategy for Harvard’s high impact international initiatives. At the time of her death, Elise was a resident of New York City and a Program Director for SYPartners.

She served on several arts and cultural committees, including the gallery committee for the Japan Society New York, the board of the John Bunker Sands Environmental Wetlands Center, and The International Council of Museums (ICOM) Marketing and Public Relations Committee worldwide.

Elise was an accomplished classical pianist, but loved all types of music, never missing the opportunity to attend a live concert. She was also an avid world-traveler, who in her lifetime, visited more than 30 countries. She never met a stranger and made an impact on the many lives she touched. She was kind, brilliant, loving, creative, selfless, adventurous, driven and fearless. We will miss her smile, her spontaneity, and her boundless, positive energy.

Several of the most beautiful qualities about Elise, were her devotion to her family, as a daughter, sister, and aunt and her dedication to her faith. She never wavered in her trust in God or her belief, that with Him, all things were possible. She held steadfast to that devotion for her entire life. Elise was a blessing, and we take comfort in knowing she is with the Lord. Her memory will continue to live with us for all the days to come and we will strive to live each day to the fullest, just as she had.

She is survived by her mother, Elaine, father, A.G., and two sisters Emily Saab Messerschmitt (Kurt) and Elizabeth Saab (Dickson Fogleman), her nephew, Edward Lazar Messerschmitt, and niece, Maxine Louise Messerschmitt, all of Dallas, Texas.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, July 6 from 6:30-8:00 PM at Sparkman/Hillcrest Funeral Home, 7405 W. Northwest Highway, Dallas, Texas 75225.

Services will be held on Friday, July 7 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 3811 Oak Lawn Avenue, Dallas, Texas. A rosary will take place from 9:15-9:30 (for those who wish to attend), and Mass will follow at 10:00 AM. Interment Hillcrest Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts be made to the Elise M. Saab Charitable Giving Fund at the Communities Foundation of Texas via the online portal (see link below) or via mail (5500 Caruth Haven Lane, Dallas, TX 75225).