Obituaries

Born in Brooklyn, NY on December 18th 1937, Mary Brill lived a long, wonderful life. From humble beginnings, Mary believed strongly in education, putting herself through school while helping to raise her younger brother, George. As a striking young woman she was selected to model for the Barbizon School, allowing her to take classes and to expand beyond her Brooklyn roots. She graduated from City College of New York and soon after met Herbert Brill, a law student at Columbia University. They married in 1958 and had three children: Jane, Steven and Gregory. Herb and Mary moved to Utica, New York, where Mary did public relations for Munger’s Department Store, wrote a fashion and society column for the Utica Observer Dispatch called the “MARY GO ROUND” and commuted to Syracuse University where she obtained a master’s degree in communications. In 1972, Mary moved to Hollywood, Florida with her family. Mary taught speech at Nova University, Broward Community College and Pine Crest Prep. After Mary and Herbert separated, Mary relocated to Los Angeles where she built a thriving business in real estate, becoming one of the most trusted and revered realtors in California. In 1981 she met her love, Murray Drazner. Murray was running the famously chic ” Le Cage Aux Folles” Nightclub. Mary and Murray were inseparable, life-partners of forty-years. Mary made her own way in life, was a mentor to many, and will be remembered for her incredible strength, fierce determination and the immense pride she felt for her children. She is survived by her loving family, her children Jane, Steven, Gregory, her brother, George, and her six grandchildren.

A private service will be held at Hillside Cemetery on Sunday, January 16th.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made in honor of Mary Brill to:

Women’s Guild Cedars-Sinai Neurology Program
www.womensguildcs.org

Tower Hematology Oncology, Dr. Philomena McAndrew
www.cedars-sinai.org/giving