Herbert Lesser

Herbert (Herb) Lesser, 79, died peacefully on May 5, 2016.  He is survived by Linda, his devoted wife of 55 years; children Larry (Laurie Davis) and Lori (Daniel Shuchman); grandchildren Judah Lesser, Aaron and Ariela Shuchman; brother Marvin Lesser (Norma), a wonderful extended family and many dear friends.  He is the son of the late Dr. Sol and Julia Lesser of Fort Worth, Texas.Born in Fort Worth, Herb came to Houston in 1954 to attend Rice University, where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa in chemical engineering and met Linda, a native Houstonian.  The couple wed and then toured Europe for a year while Herb served as a Fulbright Scholar in Munich, then returned to Princeton where Herb obtained his master’s and PhD degrees.  They then returned in 1965 to Houston, where Herb enjoyed two long and successful careers:  energy (Exxon and Mitchell Energy) and financial advisory services (Paine Webber/UBS).Herb had many non-profit and personal pursuits.  He served as President of Seven Acres Jewish Senior Care Services and the Phi Beta Kappa Alumni of Greater Houston; Director of the Houston Jewish Geriatric Foundation and National Conference of Christians and Jews; and Board Member of the American Jewish Committee and Retina Research Foundation.  He traveled extensively with Linda and loved opera, museums, financial news, the Rice Owls and Houston sports teams (fair or foul weather), trip-planning, nature, math and science, dining with family and friends and entertaining his grandchildren.  He was a superb genealogist and photographer, amateur astronomer and frequent search engine for Internet humor.?Above all, Herb was a truly kind and decent man who enjoyed life and had a great outlook on it.  Since May 2014, he battled pancreatic cancer with humor, dignity and courage, and he had many good times until the end.  He will be sorely missed but never forgotten.A private burial took place on the morning of Sunday, May 8, 2016, followed by a public memorial service and reception at 1:30 pm in the Freedman Levit Sanctuary at Congregation Beth Yeshurun; 4525 Beechnut Street, Houston, Texas, with Rabbi David Rosen officiating.Those desiring to donate in Herb’s memory are asked to consider Seven Acres (www.sevenacres.org) and Retina Research Foundation (www.retinaresearchfnd.org).Watch the video of the Funeral / Memorial Service here.