Lawrence J. Siegel, certified public accountant and longtime leader in B’nai B’rith, Congregation B’nai Amoona, and other community organizations, died Saturday, April 12, 2008, after a long battle with cancer. He was 70 years of age and a resident of Creve Coeur.

Mr. Siegel was born in St. Louis on Sept. 18, 1937. He graduated from University City Senior High School in 1955, and from Washington University in St. Louis with a bachelor of science in business administration in 1959. He served in the U.S. Army from 1959 to 1961 and attained the rank of first lieutenant. Mr. Siegel was a partner in the accounting firm of Hochschild Bloom & Co. in Chesterfield. He was a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and a life member of the Missouri Society of Certified Public Accountants. In 1992, he was honored by the St. Louis Chapter, Missouri Society of Certified Public Accounts as CPA of the Year. Mr. Siegel wrote extensively and lectured in the areas of Practice Management, Practice Development and Time Management.

Mr. Siegel was active for many years with B’nai B’rith in St. Louis, having been a past president of Archway Lodge; past president of the St. Louis B’nai B’rith Council and member of the Hillel Committee and a past president of the board of the Covenant House/CHAI Apartments for the elderly, which originated as a B’nai B’rith project. Mr. Siegel was also a longtime member of Congregation B’nai Amoona and a past treasurer and board member of the congregation.

Mr. Siegel was also a past president of the Chesterfield Chamber of Commerce, and treasurer of Variety the Children’s Charity of of St. Louis.

Mr. Siegel was married to the former Judy Schechter. He was the father and father-in-law of Nancee (Ken Schmetterer) Siegel of Deerfield, Ill.; Steve (Barb) Siegel and Susan (Greg) Ryan; grandfather of Jeremy, Will and Talia Schmetterer, Ashley and Daniel Siegel, Matthew and Bennett Ryan, and Andrew and Ashlyn Alcorn. He was the son of the late Ann and the late Ben Siegel; brother and brother-in-law of Cordell (Helene) Siegel; son-in-law of the late Bess and the late Maurice Schechter; brother-in-law of Stanley (Betty Van Uum) Schecther.

Funeral services were held at Congregation B’nai Amoona, where Rabbi Carnie Rose, Rabbi Neal Rose and Cantor Sharon Nathanson officiated. Both rabbis and family members and friends warmly remembered Mr. Siegel’s distinguished professional career, his enthusiastic membership in organizations and his brave battle against illness.

Burial was at the Chesed Shel Emeth Cemetery on White Road.

Memorial contributions preferred to Variety, the Children’s Charity of St. Louis, 3200 Westport Plaza Drive, St. Louis, MO, 63146; Congregation B’nai Amoona, 324 South Mason Road, St. Louis, MO, 63141, the Siteman Cancer Center, 550 South Euclid, St. Louis, MO, 63110, or the charity of your choice.a