Obituary: Burton Gold

Burton M. Gold, 88, passed away peacefully with his family by his side on Saturday, July 29, 2017.

He was predeceased by a wife, Lenore E. Gold; a brother, Roy E. Gold; and his parents, Mildred and William Gold. Burt was born April 7, 1929, in New York City. Originally a resident of Mount Vernon, N.Y., he later resided in New Rochelle, N.Y., then moved in 1969 to Atlanta, where in addition to his business interests he was active in both the civic and Jewish communities. He received a B.C.E. degree as a civil engineer from Cornell University in 1951, followed by military service during the Korean War as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army Ordnance Corps.

He was the founder, chairman and CEO of Stratton Industries Inc., an industry-leading producer of commercial and institutional carpets marketed around the world. The company was sold to WestPoint Pepperell in late 1986, and the Stratton name lives on as part of Shaw Industries, a Berkshire Hathaway company. His biography has been included in Who’s Who in the South and Southwest and Who’s Who in Finance and Industry. After retirement, he was engaged in marketing, consulting and real estate investment.

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Burt’s commitment to philanthropy was a lifelong passion. He served as Atlanta Israel Bonds chairman and in numerous capacities with the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, including trustee, general campaign chairman, vice president and president of the endowment fund. He served as a member of the board of directors of the William Breman Jewish Heritage Museum. Further, Burt served as the chairman of the Southeast Region of the Anti-Defamation League. He was a lifetime honorary national commissioner of the ADL and a lifetime member of the board of directors of the Atlanta regional office of American Jewish Committee. He also served as treasurer and vice president of The Temple and as a member of its board of trustees and executive committee. He formerly served on the board of directors of the Standard Club, where he was an avid golfer. A devoted Cornell University alumnus, he generously donated an art collection and gallery to the Johnson Museum of Art. He served as the chairman of the Georgia Business Community for the Arts and was past chairman of the Carpet and Rug Institute trade association. He also served on the board of trustees of the High Museum of Art, to which he donated an extraordinary collection of contemporary art in memory of his late wife, Lenore, and established the Lenore and Burton Gold Gallery. He was the 1983 recipient of the Atlanta Chapter American Jewish Committee Human Relations Award, received the Carpet and Rug Institute Humanitarian Award in 1988, was the 1990 citywide honoree of Atlanta Israel Bonds, and in 1999 was a national honoree of the Anti-Defamation League, receiving the Abe Goldstein Human Relations Award at the ADL national commission meeting in Atlanta.

He and his late wife, Lenore E. Gold, were the parents of four daughters and sons-in-law: Joanne Gold and Andy Stern (Baltimore); Lauren and Jim Grien (Atlanta); Janice and Andrew Dietz (Atlanta); and Pamela and Michael Alexander (Atlanta). He and wife Barbara Friedland Gold enjoyed a loving, 20-year marriage, and his stepsons and stepdaughters-in-law are Lance and Susan Friedland (Alpharetta) and Myles and Janie Friedland (Tampa, Fla.). He was proud of all his grandchildren: Daniel and Zachary Stern; Katie and Mark Littmann, Emily and Chase Warden, and Dylan Grien; Samantha and Jessie Dietz; Lenore, Maya and Nolan Alexander; Sam Friedland and fiancée Tania Isacoff and Dave and Mariah Friedland; and Coleby and Dawson Friedland. A special thank-you to his loving and devoted caregivers, Bernard Mohale, Xavier Boykin, Kirt Moore and Thiago Prago.

Burton M. Gold maintained residences in Delray Beach, Fla., and Atlanta.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, July 31, at The Temple. Rabbi Peter Berg, Rabbi Alvin Sugarman and Cantor Deborah Hartman officiated. Contributions in Burt’s memory can be made to The Temple, the Anti-Defamation League and the William Breman Jewish Home. Sign the online guestbook at www.edressler.com. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.