MARION LASSAR, died September 8, 2015 in her home in University City. Born in NYC, she lived in Antwerp, Belgium until age 19, when she moved to Chicago with her parents in 1929.  

She was foremost an artist, who saw the world with an acute vision of its beauty. Shortly after moving to St. Louis with her husband Gilbert Lassar, MD, she served on the board of the People’s Art Center, the first integrated community arts center in the city.  Later, she exhibited and sold her work at Neiman Marcus, Pace Gallery, and St. Louis Artists’  Guild. She welded metal sculptures and also worked in paper, clay, and stone. In addition, she designed fine jewelry and had a number of her designs fabricated in Plexiglas and stainless steel.

Mrs. Lassar  carried herself with grace, warmth, and elegance and was known for her whimsical  humor. Oh, how she loved to laugh. Always intellectually curious, she pursued many different interests: participated for 50 plus years in a philosophy lunch group, a play reading group, and various French literature classes.    

But the light of her life was her family. She delighted in her four granddaughters Antonia, Justine, Miranda, and Simone. Also, she is survived by her son Andrew (Hazel) of Boston and  daughter Terry of St. Louis. She was preceded in death by her husband and her parents Lillian and Maurice Dembitzer. 

A memorial service will be held in Boston this coming year. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Flynn Park Elementary School, Special Art Program;  Jewish Family & Children’s Service; and BJC Hospice Foundation.