New chairman has connection to museum
Son of Holocaust survivors promotes compassion, courage, social justice
For board chairman Gary Markowitz, the Holocaust Museum Houston always has been much more than a collection of artifacts or a means of preserving a specific chapter in history.
The museum at 5401 Caroline connects visitors with critical lessons from the past, the Bellaire resident says, and highlights the ongoing importance of compassion, courage and social justice.
“I think the perception, unfortunately, is it’s a Jewish museum that’s strictly about the Holocaust. We’re looking to share the lessons of the Holocaust along with more contemporary problems. The lessons of the Holocaust are universal.”
And, Markowitz adds, the museum is a vital connection to those who survived and the generations that have followed.
That’s why the Bellaire resident finds it both exciting and daunting to be serving as the newest chairman of the museum’s board of trustees and board of advisors. Markowitz was elected to a two-year term in late June.
“The board members, the staff: they’re so committed to this museum — It’s an incredi-
ble responsibility to live up to the expectations of this group.” said Markowitz, 52, an investment manager.
Board member Mark Mucasey, Markowitz’ brother-in-law, said he has no doubt that Markowitz will surpass expectations in his new role.
“Gary is one of the most down-to-earth and caring individuals I know,” said Mucasey, who has served as board chairman twice himself.
“He also brings to us a great business acumen.”
Plus, Markowitz is the son of Holocaust survivors Sam Markowitz, 92, and Lea Krell Weems, who died of multiple myeloma eight years ago at the age of 76.
“Growing up, I knew my parents were Holocaust survivors, but they didn’t talk about it,” Markowitz said. “My mom came to grips with it by virtue of her role with the Holocaust Museum.”
Weems was a founding board member of the museum and served on its executive committee. She also was president of the Houston Council of Jewish Holocaust Survivors and served on the board of Oeuvre de Secour d’Enfants (Children’s Aid Society) or OSE, the French rescue organization that hid Weems and her younger sister, Bellaire resident Ruth Krell Steinfeld, 83, during the Holocaust.
“We are very excited Gary is carrying on Lea’s legacy,” Mucasey said.
The experiences of his parents, Markowitz said, have shaped the way he sees the world.
“It’s made me aware of the risks of prejudice,” he said.
“At the museum, we talk about the risks of prejudice, hate and apathy.”
Holocaust Museum Houston opened in 1996, around the time Markowitz was completing his undergraduate degree from the University of Houston and preparing to begin his service as an officer in the U.S. Army.
“My mother was a founding board member, and she was very interested in it.
“When I returned, she was still on the board. So I got involved. I started getting a great deal of satisfaction from my involvement as well.”
Markowitz, who also went on to earn his MBA from UH, founded a young professionals group at the museum and served as its chairman 2003-04.
He also was co-chair of the museum’s Lyndon Baines Johnson Moral Courage Award Dinner in 2006 and serves on the Leadership Circle for the museum’s capital campaign.
Markowitz was elected to the board of trustees in 2015.
While others at the museum encouraged him over the years to seek a role of greater responsibility, Markowitz has been reluctant to make a commitment that took too much time away from his wife, Sunni Markowitz, and their three children, Abbie, 18; Brooke, 16; and Casey, 12.
But this year, he said, he has one daughter leaving for college and another driving.
The timing seems right to take on a leadership role the museum.
His goal as chairman is the get the word out about what the museum has to offer, including its core Holocaust exhibit with artifacts from Houston-area survivors.
“It brings to life what truly happened: the stars they had to wear on their chest, the depravity, the separation from their families. It’s a lot to digest.”
The core exhibit is painful, Markowitz said, but it concludes with a message from survivors, survivors who’ve gone on to embrace life.
“There’s a light at the end.”
But in addition to the core exhibit, Markowitz also wants the community to know that the museum is a valuable resource that offers special exhibits and educational programs, guest artists and traveling exhibits.
Another mission of the museum is preserving the legacy of Houston-area survivors.
Museum staff members have been working with them over the years to record their stories
“By telling their stories, it’s a burden lifted off of them,” Markowitz said.
“And they can talk to other survivors. I’ve seen many of them switch from being bitter and unhappy to calmer and more content.”
In recent years, the museum has been expanding its social media reach, along with programming for the community and educators.
“It’s a 20-year-old museum, and it’s constantly re-inventing itself,” Markowitz said.
The museum has hosted more than 2 million people since 1996, he added.
“The part that brings the most pride to me is watching school buses pull up.
“To have an opportunity to talk to children about social justice is heartwarming.”