Obituary of Miles L. Lasser

Miles Lasser, 92, of 192 Aldren Ave., formerly of 261 Towner Ave., died Tuesday, July 15th, 2014 at his home. A life-long area resident, Miles was born in Jamestown, NY on March 8th, 1922, the son of the late Samuel James Lasser and Sally Seidman Lasser. He was married to the late Gloria Kay Lasser from Brooklyn, NY in 1944. They were married for almost 70 years and raised their family in Jamestown. Miles graduated from Jamestown High School in 1939. He then attended and graduated from Dartmouth College and the Amos Tuck Business School in Hanover, New Hampshire in 1943. He enlisted in the United States Navy during World War II in 1943 and served as a lieutenant in the Pacific Theater fleet, including sea duty on the PCE-881 patrol craft escort ship. He subsequently studied and received his law degree from Columbia University in New York, NY in 1948. Following in his father's footsteps, Miles spent his entire career with BDO Seidman, a top-tier accounting and audit firm, becoming managing partner for the Jamestown office. He retired from the firm in 1985. He served a term as chairman of the American Institute of CPAs, as well as on various committees in the New York State Society of CPAs. He served as a board member and director of the Ralph C. Sheldon Foundation, and as a board member of the Wakefield Trust in Minneapolis. Miles' involvement in numerous civic organizations is particularly noteworthy. A highlighted list includes trustee of the State University of New York, trustee of Jamestown Community College, trustee and president of the James Prendergast Library Association, Jamestown City councilman, director of the Jamestown YMCA, director of the Chautauqua County Red Cross Chapter, director of the Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce, founder and director of the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation, director of the Chautauqua Striders, founding member of the Jamestown Community Schools Council, and co-founder and chairman of the Jamestown Chapter of the NAACP. He was also very involved with both the Roger Tory Peterson Institute and the Robert Jackson Center in Jamestown. An avid music aficionado, his knowledge of music theory and history, particularly jazz, was vast. He was an accomplished piano player, hosted the "A Little Night Music" radio show on WJTN in Jamestown for five years, and taught several summer courses on jazz and American standards songs at Chautauqua Institution. He and Gloria traveled extensively throughout the world, enjoying many destinations of historical and cultural significance. He was a lover of international foods and traditional clothiers. He also enjoyed tending to a beautiful English garden at their Towner Avenue home in Jamestown. For many years, he was heavily involved with and attended Temple Hesed Abraham in Jamestown. He was extremely well read in both classic literature and current affairs, loved discussing politics, history, and etymology. Miles's writings of prose and poetry brought joy to all who read them. He relished visiting Chautauqua Institution and attending its many summer guest speaker and entertainer engagements. He was an expert player at the card game of Pitch, and even wrote a short book on how to play and effective strategies for same. Miles was preceded in death by his wife, Gloria in 2013 and by his oldest son, David in 1950. Miles is survived by his sister June Morris of Minneapolis, MN; his three children: Elizabeth Lasser of Chautauqua, NY, Andrew (Nancy) Lasser of Oakmont, Pa., and Adam(Karen) Lasser of New Brunswick, NJ; as well as five grandchildren: Allison Lasser of North Kingstown, RI, Max Lasser of Newport, RI, Will Lasser of Oakmont, and Jodi and Jamie Lasser of Bedminster, NJ. A Memorial Celebration of Miles's life will be held at the Juliet J. Rosch Activities Center, 200 Aldren Ave. in Jamestown at a date and time to be announced by the Lind Funeral Home. Inurnment will be in Beth-El Cemetery. The family suggests contributions be made to the Miles and Gloria Lasser Community Insight Fund, c/o the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation, 418 Spring St., Jamestown, NY 14701.