ST. PETERSBURG - Lawrence D. "Larry" Wasser, the son of Holocaust survivors who became the executive director of the Florida Holocaust Museum, has died at 56.
Mr. Wasser, who led campaigns that raised more than $6-million to build the museum in downtown St. Petersburg, died Monday (June 2, 2003) at St. Joseph's Hospital, Tampa. He suffered a heart attack at his Tampa home Sunday, a museum spokeswoman said.
Involved with the museum since its inception in 1990, he was part of the struggle to operate in cramped quarters on the grounds of the Jewish Community Center of Pinellas County near Madeira Beach. In 1998, a year after he became executive director, the 27,000-square-foot museum opened at its present location.
"Larry was a visionary," museum president Geoffrey Simon said Tuesday. "He had the rare ability to inspire people to succeed beyond their personal best."
The museum's mission is to teach lessons learned from the Holocaust and other horrors. About 85,000 people attend annually, according to the museum.
The son of Holocaust survivors Kurt and Goldie Wasser, he was reared in New Jersey and educated at the University of Mississippi and Rider University.
He came to Tampa in 1981 and became local director of the Jewish National Fund, which supports land improvement in Israel. In 1992, he was promoted to southern regional director serving 11 states.
From 1976 to 1980, he was regional director for B'nai B'rith Youth Services. He was a former executive director of the March of Dimes in Philadelphia.
Survivors include his wife of 34 years, Deena; two sons, Kurt, Weston, and Adam, Los Angeles; a sister, Phyllis Rowe, Atlanta; an aunt, Rita Warren, Atlanta; and a grandson, Miles Wasser.
A memorial service will be at 10 a.m. today at Congregation Kol Ami, 3919 Moran Road, Tampa, where he was a member.
Memorial contributions may be made to Congregation Kol Ami or the Florida Holocaust Museum, 55 Fifth St. S, St. Petersburg, FL 33701.
- Information from Times files was used in this obituary.
