Joel Grossman Myers

Joel Grossman Myers, an Educator and Community Volunteer, died at her home on August 8, 2019 at the age of 85. A New Orleans native, Myers spent 18 years teaching government, civics, and other social studies courses mainly at McGehee School, where she was named Teacher of the Year in 1993. She also served as Administrator of Poydras Home, as a Research Director at UNO's Dept. of Business and Economic Research, as an Associate Producer at WYES-TV, and as a Reporter for Education and Environmental Issues for New Orleans Magazine. She was named one of the 84 People to Watch in '84 and received the Woman of the Year award from the New Orleans Business and Professional Women.

As a volunteer, Myers was involved in City and State government. She served on various City Boards and Commissions such as the Regional Planning Commission, the City Planning Commission, the Mayor's Charter Revision Committee, the Mayor's Commission on the Future of the City, the Task Force to Examine the Current State of Public Education in New Orleans, the World's Fair Advisory Committee, and the Council for a New State Constitution. She was the President of both the New Orleans League of Women Voters and the State LWV and was on the boards of the Bureau of Governmental Research, the Metropolitan Area Committee, the Institute for the Comparative Study of Public Policy, United Nations Association and United Nations Day Chair with Walter Rostow.

Other Boards on which Myers served were: the New Orleans Coalition, New Orleans Collaborative for Timely Adoptions, the Public Law Center of Tulane and Loyola, the Girl Scouts, the National Council of Jewish Women, Greater New Orleans Section, YWCA, Junior Achievements, Foreign Relations Association, the United Way, UNO Children's Center, the Vieux Carre Property Owners, Residents and Associates and the Symphony Volunteers. She served as a Docent at the New Orleans Museum for many years and tutored children and adults in various programs. She is survived by her husband Melvil Bertrand Myers, MD, children Brad Myers (Bernita), Melanie Bronfin (Daniel), and Eve Herman, grandchildren Ryan Myers, Reid Myers (Angela), Grant Myers, Ethan Myers, Michael Bronfin, Neil Bronfin, David Herman, Stephanie Herman, and brother René Grossman.

Her family gratefully requests that memorials be made to National Council of Jewish Women, Greater New Orleans Section, or to the New Orleans Museum of Art.