Laurel Barron Mendelsohn, daughter of Herman and Marion Katz, passed away in her home in Chevy Chase, MD on October 16, 2022. She was born on October 12, 1931 in Brooklyn, New York.  Laurel grew up in Great Neck, New York and raised her family in Bethesda, MD.

Laurel was the loving wife of 38 years to Dr. Robert Mendelsohn, who predeceased her in July 2022.  Prior to that, she was married to Ellis Barron, with whom she had three children.  Ellis predeceased her in 1978. Laurel was also predeceased by her step-son Mark Mendelsohn.  Laurel is survived by her children, Leslie Barron Lane (Bruce), Richard Barron (Carol) and Jeffrey Barron (Barbara Bender), her four step children, Anne Turner (David), Sindy Rogers (Don), Craig Mendelsohn (Dan) and June Plotkin (Rick), and her step daughters-in-law, Faye Mendelsohn and Rhonda Brodbeck; her siblings Naomi Kulakow and Bobbie Leigh, and over 40 grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

For many years, Laurel held an elected position on the Maryland State Democratic Central Committee.  She not only worked for democratic candidates on the local and state level, but actively supported candidates running for office on the national level.  She was a longtime board member of the Jewish Social Service Agency, the Jewish Council for the Aging, the James Renwick Alliance, which supports the Smithsonian's Renwick Gallery, and the Art Alliance for Contemporary Glass. Laurel was a well-known collector of contemporary glass with her second husband, Robert.  They traveled to countless countries over a three decade period, including multiple trips to Asia, Africa, and Europe.

Funeral services will be held graveside at 12:00 PM at the Washington Hebrew Congregation Memorial Park at 1380 Alabama Avenue, SE, Washington, DC.  Shiva will be held at 7:00 PM on Wednesday and Thursday nights at the home of Leslie and Bruce Lane in Bethesda, MD.  Donations can be made to the Jewish Social Service Agency ( www.jssa.org ) or the charity of your choice.

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