Kitty Tavel

Kitty Tavel, a lifelong resident of Indianapolis, passed away on October 14, 2018. She was 95 years old, an age which she was proud to have achieved.

Mrs. Tavel was a graduate of Shortridge High School (with honors) and the University of Michigan. After WWII, she met Captain David Tavel soon after his return from the South Pacific and they were later married in Indianapolis. Together they raised four sons while establishing what became the largest family-owned optical company in the state of Indiana.

Mrs. Tavel's commitment to community service began through her children's Scout program. Then in 1966 she was asked by the Marion County director of the American Cancer Society to organize a women's group whose goal was to promote awareness of and raise funds for this dreaded disease. Mrs. Tavel gathered together a group that included Mrs. Fred Tucker, Mrs. John Halliday, Mrs. Sonya Eiteljorg, Mrs. Frank McKinney, Mrs. Daniel Mattinow, Mrs. Barbara Lieber, and a long list of others to begin record breaking fundraising for the Society.

In 1969 Mrs. Tavel joined a task force of five women whose goal was to create and establish a Docent Training Program for the IMA in anticipation of the forthcoming grand opening of the Indianapolis Museum of Art (1970) at its new location at 38th Street and Michigan Road. In 1983 her late friend Daniel Efroymson asked Mrs. Tavel to become a Board Member of The Nature Conservancy and help promote a similar women's group. Mr. Efromyson later became the national president.

In 1987 Mrs. Tavel was appointed to serve on Mayor Richard Hudnut's Indianapolis Clean City Recycling Commission. Mrs. Tavel's friend Gregory K. Silver had assisted Mrs. Tavel in securing a United States patent for a product to promote recycling waste materials. Mrs. Tavel was one of several early pioneers working to solve this worldwide dilemma.

One of the most exciting adventures of her life came in 1987 when Mrs. Tavel was the only Hoosier to board the French Concorde on its first 23-day voyage around the world. Among the passengers she met was a delightful man named Gordon Booth whose mother was a Lockerbie! Mr. Booth's great grandfather was an engineer who laid out the city streets of Indianapolis!

Mrs. Tavel was an avid golfer. When she and the late Dr. Tavel traveled, golf clubs received priority and were the first items packed. From Pebble Beach, La Costa and Torrey Pines on the west coast to Sawgrass and The Doral in the Southeast as well as Texas's Ben Hogan's course, Mrs. Tavel enjoyed them all. Her favorites were soon-to-be "discovered" golf courses, Los Monteros and Satogrande on the Costa del Sol of sunny Spain in 1967. Even when she could no longer swing a club, watching tournaments on the golf channel was a major highlight of Mrs. Tavel's days.

In 1970 at the request of Josephine Jamison (Booth Tarkington's niece) and Phyllis Bennett Solomon (then curator of Decorative Arts at the Indianapolis Museum of Art), Dr. and Mrs. Tavel, Dr. and Mrs. Louis Nie, Mr. and Mrs. Philip Frieberger, and Mr. and Mrs. George Charbonneau established the Decorative Arts Society of the Indianapolis Museum of Art.

Mrs. Tavel was also a board member of the Clowe's Hall Women's Committee and volunteered with Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. In addition, Mrs. Tavel enjoyed tennis and swimming. She joined Broadmoor Country Club in 1939, where she remained a member for 55 years

In 1992 Mrs. Tavel designed and built Prestwick Hall, her last home. It is what would be described today as a "green" house. An English company based in London photographed Prestwick Hall and used that photo in advertising campaigns throughout the United States and around the world.

Mrs. Tavel is survived by three sons, Dr. Alan G. Tavel, Dr. Larry S. Tavel (Sandi) and R. J. Tavel and daughter-in-law Tamara Tavel of Cincinnati; beloved granddaughters, Mollie Kaback (Josh), Lauren, Doni, Amy, Alison and Alexi Tavel and special companion, Pamela Mack. She was preceded in death by her son, Donald Louis Tavel; and her husband, Dr. David Tavel.

The family is very grateful to all the wonderful caregivers who made it possible for Mrs. Tavel to stay in her home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Donald Louis Tavel Memorial Fund, c/o Indiana University Foundation, P. O. Box 500, Bloomington, IN 47402. Friends may leave a memory of Kitty or a message of condolence for the family by visiting www.arnmortuary.com .

The family will receive friends on Thursday, October 18, from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m. at the Indianapolis Marriott North, 3645 River Crossing Parkway, Indianapolis. In accordance with Mrs Tavel's wishes, services will be private.