The Story Behind the Photo

MARY R. LASSER AND FAMILY: A TRADITION OF GIVING
Giving to CINJ is an extended family affair for Mary Lasser, who lost her son Thomas when he was in his early forties to melanoma. To honor Tom, who was treated at CINJ, Mary established the Thomas A. Lasser Fund and named the melanoma research laboratory at CINJ. Mary, her family, the Elizabeth and Barets O. Benjamin Foundation, and friends have made significant contributions to melanoma research at CINJ for a decade.

Gifts from family and friends usually take the form of celebrations: bar and bat mitzvahs, anniversaries, the CINJ Gala, and, of course, birthdays. Mary’s mother, Louise Steinfirst, at the age of 100 still celebrates Mary’s birthday with a gift to CINJ in her honor! Since age 6, Emily Golden, the child of close family friend Joanne Golden, has celebrated each of her birthdays by asking that gifts be made to CINJ in lieu of presents.

Mary Lasser says of her family and friends, “My friends knew Tom from infancy, my sister-in-law I’ve known since fourth grade. Our children grew up together. Now our grandchildren are part of this extended circle of giving.”

Son Bob Lasser speaks to this sense of passing the torch of philanthropy. “As a family we have always supported each other in many ways. Each time we participate in a CINJ program or event we understand how our involvement has a direct benefit. During each visit to CINJ we learn more about what it takes to fund these types of programs and understand how important it is to extend our participation. My mother’s vision has been generously supported by our family and friends to create the Thomas A. Lasser Melanoma Laboratory. As our families grow my hope is that our children and their friends begin to participate in the work required to maintain the funding, awareness and research at CINJ.”

“Tom’s treatment was the very best at CINJ,” Mary says, “they helped us through a very difficult time. It is hard to believe that Tom’s foundation is still going strong after ten years. When I drive down to CINJ, I always share my thoughts with Tom and keep him up to date.”

The Thomas A. Lasser Melanoma Laboratory was dedicated in 2004 with Judy Weisman, Tom Lasser’s sister, delivering the address and many family members and friends in attendance. In addition to funding melanoma research (see Under the Microscope), generous gifts through the Lasser Fund have supported the Thomas A. Lasser Research Assistantship and the sun safe campaign, a public service radio campaign that raised awareness of skin cancer prevention and early detection of melanoma.

CINJ honored Mary Lasser with the Award of Hope at its Tenth Annual Gala in 2005. The Gala has come to be a Lasser family affair. Son Peter Lasser and his wife Cynthia Potter of Atlanta, Judy and her husband Bob Weisman, and Bob Lasser and his wife Cheyanne Boyd all support and attend the annual event. Judy and Bob Weisman also served as co-chairs of the 2005 Gala.

We honor and thank this extraordinary family for their support of CINJ. Generations of patients will benefit from the commitment that generations of Lassers have made to the fight against melanoma.


Featured in the photo: Members of the Lasser family together at the dedication of the Thomas A. Lasser Melanoma Research Laboratory. Back row l-r: Bob Weisman, Bob Lasser, Peter Lasser, Judy Weisman. Center: Mary Lasser. Front row l-r: Cheyanne Boyd, Allan Lasser, Maddie Lasser, Sam Weisman, Melanie Weisman and Katie Weisman.