Longtime Las Vegas philanthropist Goot dies at 81

Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2000 | 9:11 a.m.

Evelyn Weiner Goot, a Las Vegas socialite for more than half a century and the matriarch of a pioneering Las Vegas business and philanthropic family that helped found Temple Beth Sholom, died Monday at Nathan Adelson Hospice. She was 81.

The cause was heart failure, her family said, noting that the statuesque New York fashion model of the 1930s and '40s also suffered from Parkinson's disease.

Graveside services for the Las Vegas resident of 55 years will be 2:30 p.m. Thursday at Woodlawn Cemetery. Palm Mortuary is handling the arrangements.

"She was a very well-liked, warm individual -- a lovely, beautiful woman," said Sun Publisher Barbara Greenspun, a longtime friend. "Evelyn was successful at fund-raising because it was so difficult to say no to her."

Joel Goot of Las Vegas called his mother "one of the last of a dozen or so grandams of Las Vegas' early days of society."

Evelyn Goot was the widow of Max Goot, who at one time owned Stoney's jewelry shop downtown, Tinch Furniture on South Main Street in the 1950s and '60s and the Eldorado Casino, which he and partners Al Rosen and Nate Mack sold to Benny Binion, who renamed it Binion's Horseshoe.

Evelyn also was the sister-in-law of Albert Goot, who was president of Temple Beth Sholom in 1955-56 and owner of several businesses, including Hollywood Furniture on South Main Street in the 1960s and two downtown markets.

The Goots are remembered for the millions of dollars they raised for charity in the city's developing years.

"Although my mother was most proud of the efforts by our family to raise money to build Temple Beth Sholom, their philanthropic work extended well beyond the Jewish community," Joel Goot said.

One of the Goots' favorite charities was their annual Christmas party for the underprivileged children of the black community that from the 1950s to the mid-60s was held at the West Las Vegas Community Center.

Evelyn was the host of the events, where black Strip entertainers such as Sammy Davis Jr. and Lena Horne would perform for -- and later meet with -- the kids. The Goots also gave presents to each child.

In the 1950s the Goots raised funds from area casinos and other businesses to build Temple Beth Sholom to meet the needs of a fast-growing Jewish community. In the mid-1960s they raised even more money to add Hebrew schoolrooms to the complex.

Goot was born Evelyn Weiner on May 17, 1919, in New York City, the third youngest of eight children of tailor Solomon Weiner and his wife, Mollie.

She was raised in Manhattan and graduated from Washington Heights High School. At 15, Evelyn lied about her age, telling area clothing designers she was 18 to get modeling jobs in their stores.

Standing 5 feet 11 inches, she was highly sought after to model designer gowns and furs at private showroom events for potential buyers.

After she married Max Goot in New York, he came to Las Vegas in 1944 and sent for her a year later.

Throughout her life, Evelyn Goot maintained a high sense of fashion consciousness. She would not leave the house without first donning the finest and latest clothing, often with matching accessories, including hat, jewelry, handbag and pristine white gloves.

Evelyn was a member of Variety Club Tent No. 39 and the Sisterhood of Temple Beth Sholom. She was a supporter of the arts, attending many gallery openings and the symphony.

In addition to her son, Goot is survived by another son, Stephen Goot of Atlanta; a brother, Michael Weiner of Las Vegas; a sister, Sylvia Blauschild of Florida; two grandsons, Michael Goot and Brian Bible; a granddaughter, Alexandra Goot; and a niece, Susan Winograd.

The family said donations can be made in Evelyn Goot's memory to the American Parkinson's Disease Association, 1001 Shadow Lane, Las Vegas, NV 89106.