Elias Benabib's Obituary
Elias Benabib, 88, of Miami, FL passed away on April 13,2023 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s. He
was born in Mexico City on May 24,1934 to Sara and Jaque Benabib. He grew up in Cuernavaca, Mexico
where he met and married the late Elyssa Pardo, with whom he had 3 sons.
In 1962, Elias moved to New York City where he owned an art gallery and established The House of Elias,
a furniture store that popularized the Spanish colonial style. In 1985, he moved to Miami, FL where he
became a proud American citizen and worked in the art and design industry as an art dealer specializing
in antique prints and maps. In 2000, met and married his beloved wife, Patricia Ledbetter.
Elias was known for his unbounded generosity and kindness, his dapper wardrobe and his crowd-pleasing paella and flan. He loved all types of music and would break into dance anytime, anywhere.
The party started when he walked into the room! He was an old-world gentleman who was loved and
respected by all who knew him.
Elias was preceded in death by parents, Sara and Jaque Benabib; wife, Elyssa Benabib; brother Raphael
Benabib and daughter, Lee (Bill) Coggins. He is survived by his wife, Patricia Ledbetter; son, Roberto
(Samantha) Benabib; son, Michael Benabib; son, Kim Benabib; daughter, Toni (Karl) Roth; son, Wayne
(Rochelle) Ledbetter; daughter, Toby (Tim) Hanna; niece, Sara (Enrique) Kanarek; nephew, Jack Benabib;
niece, Nury (Solomon) Sutton; 14 grandchildren; 7 great-grandchildren and numerous great nieces and
nephews.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations in honor of Elias to:
Easter Seals South Florida
C/O Emilia
1475 NE 14th Ave
Miami, FL 33125
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