Lois Sasson (April 28, 1940 – December 30, 2020) was an American jewelry designer, gay rights activist, and longtime partner of singer-songwriter Lesley Gore.
Lois Sasson was born Lois Diane Kahaner on April 28, 1940, in Brooklyn, New York.
Sol, her father, imported fine lace, and Helen (Seiden) Kahaner was a homemaker.
Lois grew up in Jamaica Estates in Queens, New York.
She went to Mount Ida Junior College in Newton, Massachusetts, and then New York University.
1970
Her career in jewelry design began to grow in the 1970s.
Her work was featured in New York magazine.
Sasson created high-end jewelry, sometimes designed in partnership with Geoffrey Thomas, sold in stores such as Bergdorf Goodman.
She also had some of her work on display in art galleries.
1980
Lois lived with her partner, singer Lesley Gore ("It's My Party"), whom she started dating in the mid-1980s, for 33 years, until Gore's death in 2015.
2013
She also donated 35% of jewelry sales received at a benefit for a woman with aplastic anemia in 2013.
Her early marriage to Raymond Sasson ended in divorce.
2015
By 2015, Sasson became well known for her work with precious stones, encrusted cufflinks, and tuxedo button covers.
On Valentine's Day that year a set of men's jewelry called "The Ambassador Set" went on sale for $16,000.
Sasson designed and donated "Compassion" cufflinks in support of the Center for the Advancement of Women.
2020
Sasson died from COVID-19 at Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York City, on December 30, 2020, aged 80.
Her only surviving family member was her sister Susan Kahaner.
