Laura Landau Obituary

Harrington Park - Laura Landau, the second-born and last surviving child of Russian immigrant Emanuel Menachem Mendel "Manny" Haskel and Sarah Leah "Sadie" (Dreyer) Haskel, was born in Brooklyn on January 3rd, 1931. Laurie grew up first in Borough Park and later in Kew Gardens Hills, Queens. Her father was a family partner with Haskel & Sons, Monuments (known to some by the painted "ghost sign" that covered the brick wall of a now-demolished building on Manhattan's Houston Street). Laurie would recount childhood stories of spending Sundays visiting cemeteries alongside her father to obtain "rubbings" as inspiration for Haskel's noted granite carvings. These research efforts were often rewarded with a clandestine strawberry shortcake at the diner as Manny read his paper. Laurie discovered her future at the White Roe Hotel in the Catskill Mountains. There, she encountered a bright, hardworking young man who was smitten by her undeniable beauty and charm. After an ambitious courtship, including a first date secured by a pair of sought-after tickets to "South Pacific" on Broadway, her beau, William Landau of the Bronx, succeeded in winning her hand. They were wed on September 8th, 1951. Bill and Laurie were a "power couple" long before the term was coined. After a move to the suburbs, they opened the area's first freestanding Ethan Allen Gallery in River Edge, New Jersey. At a time when the typical furniture store featured rows of product arranged by price, the pair (aided by Laurie's natural panache and understated-but-drop-dead style) pioneered the concept of retailing rooms of coordinated home furnishings. Recognized as one of the top Ethan Allen dealers nationwide, Landau's Carriage House won numerous awards attributed to "Mr. and Mrs. Landau's" creative approach to the home interiors business. And any room-business or social-would light up when this charmed pair entered. Faithful to their tradition, Bill and Laurie were long-time congregants at Temple Emanuel in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey. Laurie was also a talented golfer, and for many years the couple were members of the Edgewood Country Club in Rivervale. In addition to Bill, her sorely missed, loving partner of fifty-five years, who left us in 2007, Laurie was pre-deceased by her adored siblings-Jules, Elaine, and Rebecca. Laurie passed from this world on July 4th, 2025. She was assisted in her peaceful final days by her faithful caregivers and enveloped in love by her tight-knit family. Laurie was the mother of three daughters: Lois Leeds of Park Ridge, New Jersey; Pamela Connolly of Pleasantville, New York; and Nancy Gillon of Tenafly, New Jersey. She was Nana to seven girls: Rebecca Kowal and Melissa Leeds; Jacky and Margot Connolly and Katie Connolly Reiter; and Leah Gillon Birzon and Danielle Gillon Mancher, along with a great-granddaughter, Isabella Kowal, and a great-grandson, Max Kowal. Nana very graciously shared her offspring with sons-in-law Andy Leeds, David Connolly, and Josh Gillon, grandsons-in-law Spencer Reiter, Zach Birzon, and Max Mancher, and future grandson-in-law Forrest Muelrath. All who knew her were blessed to enjoy the beautiful warmth of her generous and loving spirit.