Evan Strizver Epstein Odell

Evan Strizver Epstein Odell was born August 12, 1929, to Harry and Jessie Levine Strizver of New York, New York. She enjoyed a long, happy, and healthy life. Evan was a loving daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who loved life and was devoted to her family and friends. Her passions in life included her devotion to Judaism, art, politics, world affairs, history, travel, reading (she was an active member in book clubs), solving the New York Times crossword puzzle, and flowers. Her greatest inspiration was the grace and humor that flowed from her mother, Jessie. Her fondest memories were celebrating life’s special moments with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Art was her calling. As a young teenager, she explored art galleries and museums in New York City on her own and often spent time in Central Park practicing her drawing skills. As she approached high school, her beloved uncle, Matthew Kalmenoff, guided her to prepare an art portfolio to help her gain entrance into the High School of Music & Art. She then attended and graduated from Barnard College, where she studied art history. Years later, after moving to Houston, she studied education and graduated from the University of Houston with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education. She began her career by founding a clothing shop in Highland Village in the 1950’s. Later, she taught middle school history in HISD schools. But art called again, and she opened her art first gallery in the Museum District in the mid-1960’s, then opened the Hooks-Epstein art gallery in 1969. She founded Fine Arts Appraisal Service in 1978 where she and her daughter, Gail, have appraised fine art collections ever since. She was well known and liked in her profession where she developed close relations with art galleries, scholars, artists, auction houses, and collectors worldwide. Evan was preceded in death by her parents, Harry and Jessie Strizver, her first husband, Lester Epstein, her second husband, John “Chip” Odell, and so many loved extended family members and friends. She is survived by her children, Mark Epstein, Gail and Foster Faerman; grandchildren, Jess Faerman, Julie and Colin Gormley, Daniel and Stephanie Faerman, Christopher Mark Epstein and Joaquina Guerrero, and Ryan Nathaniel Epstein and Jesse McKenna; and great-grandchildren, Cillian Gormley, Lucas Epstein, and Ari Faerman. Mom was kind, gentle, loving, accepting, and generous toward any person that crossed her path. We will miss her very much. A memorial service will take place on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, at 12:30 pm in the Gordon Chapel at Congregation Beth Israel, 5600 North Braeswood Boulevard, Houston, Texas 77096. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, www.mfah.org/support, or the American Heart Association, www.heart.org/donate.

Evan Strizver Epstein Odell

August 12, 1929 - May 3, 2026