Harriet Gertner For Luxury Trending
Harriet Gertner is passionate about ‘giving back,’ and the charitable causes she supports.
After her first husband, Larry Rosmarin, suffered and died from diabetes and kidney failure, Harriet made it her mission to help defeat diabetes in America, while helping others also battling the disease. She was just 38 years old at the time.
When the American Diabetes Association honored Harriet for her unwavering support, her commitment to community and volunteerism soared. She has chaired and supported many worthy foundations and nonprofits such as the University of Houston’s Moores School of Music, Child Advocates, the March of Dimes, Sickle Cell Association of Houston, Ready Women, USO (supports veterans and military families), and FotoFest.
During this time, the native Houstonian married her second love, Gil Gertner.
Harriet has also served on the Board of Directors of the Sickle Cell Association of Houston, Indestructible Beginnings – an image consulting nonprofit whose mission is to build character, self-esteem, and self-confidence, and Smart Kids which provides scholarships for less fortunate children.
Harriet credits her late husband, Larry Rosmarin, as a great influence on her life. She says Larry was a genius. He was a music distributor for all record labels in the southwest. He started in the basement of his father’s business at age 20, and grew the business to become a ‘major player’ in the industry. Harriet met mega stars like The Beatles, Tony Bennett, Tom Jones, and others. Harriet once hosted a party for the King himself, Elvis Presley. Larry died at the young age of 43.
Natasha Rosen was another influencer in Harriet’s life. She was a model, a concert pianist, and involved with the Houston Ballet. In her later years, Natasha started teaching the bible, and Harriet learned from her for 15 years. “She was a beautiful and God-fearing lady.”
In appreciation for her philanthropy, she has been recognized by the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation as a “Woman of Distinction”, and Social Book. She was honored by the National Kidney Foundation at its tenth annual “Kick Out Kidney Disease” luncheon, and former Houston Mayor Annise Parker proclaimed Harriet Gertner Day in honor of her 25 years of excellence in community service. Yet another accolade, Best Charity honored her for a lifetime of charitable endeavors.
Harriet’s advice to others is from the heart, yet something we should all know to do. “Be honest, loyal to friends, kind to others, and good to everybody. Set goals in life. Live your life to do good for others. Every time you do a good deed, an angel watches over you and helps you get closer to God. You create angels when you do good things. Be better; be yourself.”
Many in the Texas Legal profession know the name Percy Foreman, the renowned criminal defense attorney from Houston. Those who knew him well also knew he didn’t drive. Unless you’ve known Harriet for many years, you probably didn’t know she offered to give Percy a ride home one day, which led to her driving him home for about 10 years. “He shared so much knowledge about life, and was caring and kind.” Harriet includes Percy Foreman as having influenced her life also.
Because they share a ‘similar look,’ on many occasions Harriet has been mistaken for Angie Dickinson. If someone were to make a movie about her life, Angie Dickinson would be Harriet’s choice for the starring role.
Harriet is a beautiful, timeless legend.
Make-Up Artist: ALEX MASON @alexreigh
Hair Stylist: PAKIS KANTALAS
Creative Director: ROSALINA TRAN LYDSTER @rosalinalydster
Jewelry By: BIJOUX BY ROSALINA @bijouxbyrosalina
Rosalina’s Assistant: JASMINE NGUYEN and CHIEU ANH NGUYEN
BTS Photographer: BRANDON JAMES @man.behindthecam
Videographer Assistant: VANESSA HERBRUGER
Copy Editor: KIEDO VILLANUEVA @kei_villanueva
Art Director: NIGEL JOHN DEL MUNDO @nigeldelmundo
Public Relations: RASHENA FRANKLIN
Executive Producer: QIANA JAMES @qianajames
Photographer: VINCENT GOTTI @vinniegotti
Photographed at: CIEL Restaurant & Lounge in Houston TX @cielhtx