Obituary: Louis Pichulik
Louis Pichulik died suddenly at home on April 16, 2017. He is survived by his loving wife of 40 years, Jo Pichulik; daughters, Elissa (Greg) and Suzanne (Seth); son, David; sister, Jeannette (Michael); and four grandchildren: Sam, Henry, Sela and Solomon.
Louis was born on November 16, 1945 to Holocaust Survivors, Sara and Rubin Pichulik, in Anapa Russia, a port city on the Black Sea.
Shortly thereafter, he moved to several displaced person’s camp in Germany. In 1951, he, his parents and sister, Jeannette, immigrated to Atlanta through the port of New Orleans.
He grew up in Morningside, surrounded by a strong Jewish community that was his family. During this time, his parents owned a grocery store in the Kirkwood area. He spent many long days helping his parents at their store.
After graduating from Grady High School, he went to Tulane University, where he received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and a minor in Art History in 1968.
This time was an influential time for Louis. He fell in love with architecture, food and culture. He proceeded to foster these loves in his long Atlanta real estate career. Upon moving back to Atlanta, he earned his real estate license and began brokering land deals.
After a real estate crash in the ‘70s, he began investing in apartment complexes. Eventually he transitioned into commercial real estate, which was his true passion. He rehabilitated historic spaces that reminded him of his Tulane days. He loved creating restaurants in these spaces. Louis was a creative visionary that found great joy in every tenant’s success.
In 1971, he met a hard-working nurse from small town Dewy Rose, GA named Mary Jo David. Although from different worlds, they fell in love and married in July 1976. Louis loved his “Jo-Jo” with complete adoration. He had his first child, Elissa, in 1978. Suzanne followed in 1982. After losing baby Margo in 1988, David was born in 1990. Louis could not believe he had a boy!
He was a devoted father and endlessly proud of his children and grandchildren. A doting husband, successful businessman, loving father and loyal friend, he will forever be in our hearts.
Funeral services were held April 19, 2017 at Arlington Memorial Park, with Rabbi Laurence Rosenthal officiating.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to The William Breman Jewish Heritage and Holocaust Museum, www.thebreman.org; or Ahavath Achim Synagogue, www.aasynogogue.org.
Sign online guestbook at www.edressler.com. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.
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