Obituary: Alon Panovka

Alon Panovka, 63, of Atlanta, beloved husband, father, son, son-in-law, brother, brother-in-law, uncle, and friend, passed away on Feb. 26, 2026.

Alon was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, on March 27, 1962, the son of Hilly and Gerry Panovka. When he was 18 months old, the family moved to Herzliya Pituach in Israel, where he and his siblings, Robin and Tamar, attended the Brandeis elementary school. When Alon was 12, the family returned to Johannesburg, where he went to high school at King David Victory Park. In 1979, the family immigrated to Atlanta, where Alon lived the rest of his life. After earning a BA at Emory and a JD at the University of Georgia, he launched his legal career, initially working with his late father, Gerry.

In 1999, he married the love of his life, Sheri Panovka (née Petasnick), with whom he raised two wonderful sons, Alexander and Oren. They were his pride and joy, the apples of his eye. He was, at his core, a loving family man, adored by his wife, sons, and larger family.

Alon was hardworking and brilliant, and he excelled at everything he did. He built a successful law practice and significant businesses with assets spanning across Atlanta, Connecticut, and New York. He was kind and generous with his partners, tenants, and employees, and widely admired for his business acumen. He marched to the beat of his own drum, paying little heed to conventional wisdom and always charting his own course. Despite his tremendous achievements in business and other pursuits, he was modest and low key, never pretentious, never seeking the limelight.

He lived life to the fullest and had a great run. He loved his family and friends and enjoyed travel and philanthropic pursuits. He was beloved by many, including his mother, Hilly Panovka, brother, Robin Panovka, sister, Tamar Stern, his late sister-in-law, Alexandra Korry, his brother-in-law, Mark Stern, and his adoring nieces and nephews, Rebecca, Ariel, Julia, Sarah, and Daniel, as well as his parents-in-law, Barbara and Jerry Petasnick, and his sister- and brother-in-law, Laura and Adam Berkey.

He was a brilliant, funny, warm, brave, and caring man who will be sorely missed.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Norwalk Art Space, which Alon helped launch — https://www.thenorwalkartspace.org/ — or to another charity of your choice.

The funeral was held on Sunday, March 1, at Arlington Memorial Park. Shiva was held at Sheri and Alon’s home at 6 p.m. on Sunday, March 1, and Tuesday, March 3. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.