Andrew Adler Lasser

We lost a phenomenal man when Andrew Adler Lasser, PhD, died peacefully in his home on February 13, 2023. He was an accomplished and proud man, although people he met would never know it. With his smiling eyes, warm heart and love of life, most folks just enjoyed being around him. He was a kind and gentle soul completely dedicated to his wife Kay, who he called "beauty," his children, grandchildren, family and friends. Andy was born December 27, 1947, at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, to Dr. Elliot Charles and Phyllis Adler Lasser. He grew up in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, graduated from high school in 1965, and attended the University of Wisconsin at age 17. After his first year in college, he joined the U.S. Army. He completed Officer Candidate School with the ranking of Lieutenant and served in counterintelligence at the height of the Vietnam War. After his Army service, he returned to college, earning his undergraduate degree from San Diego State University in 1972. He went on to earn a Master's in Public Health in 1974 from the University of Pittsburgh and his Ph.D. in 1982. Andy described Kay as "infectious joy." Andy met Kay in Leadership Oklahoma Class VI. Their relationship continued to develop as part of a group of LOK classmates that became lifelong friends. They later married in 1996 while living in Richmond, VA. Over the years, Andy and Kay traveled across the world with their LOK friends and others, enjoying many memorable trips and meaningful connections. While sailing his beloved boat, Airborne was his passion, first on Lake Hefner and then in the Chesapeake Bay, he treasured his fly fishing trips with "the guys" to the South Fork Branch of the Rio Grande River, where they did a modicum of fishing, a lot of beer consumption followed by "enlightened" evening discourses on solutions to the world's problems. His loss will be felt deeply among these friends.Andy's daughters, Kylee and Talia, know, without a doubt, they were loved by their dad. They described him as an "amazing father, simple man and jolly soul" that they cherished and who taught them so much.Always wearing his signature bow tie, Andy's first CEO role was at General Hospital in Eureka, California. He went on to West Virginia University Hospital, where Andy developed his passion for teaching hospitals. From West Virginia, Andy came to Oklahoma, where he served as Administrator of Children's Hospital of Oklahoma for a year then advanced to CEO of The University Hospitals. In the late 90s, Andy went on to serve as COO for Medical College of Virginia Hospitals in Richmond. In the following 10 years, he served as President and CEO of St Joseph Hospital and University Hospital in Augusta, Georgia. Desiring to return to Oklahoma, Andy established his own healthcare consulting company, The Lasser Group, which he ran until retirement.His contributions went far beyond his professional service. He served in many academic roles and on a variety of boards for professional and civic groups. He served as a Commissioner for the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs and as Chairman of the Governing Board of Directors for Variety Care in Oklahoma City. He was a longtime member of the Oklahoma City Rotary Club 29. He also served on the boards of the International Christian Children's Fund, American Red Cross, and Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club.Andy is survived by his wife Kaylon Smith Lasser of Nichols Hills, OK; daughter Kylee Lasser Chaffin, husband Ryan and their son Levi of Norman, OK; daughter Talia Lasser Strain, husband Brian and their children Emmy and Jax of Golden, CO; son Martin Smith and wife Karen and their sons Mart and Matthew of Nichols Hills, Ok; daughter Amy Sewell, husband Frank and their children Annakate Ross, Olivia Ross, Sydney Sewell, and Asa Sewell, of Nichols Hills, OK; father Dr. Elliot Lasser, of La Jolla, CA; brother Dr. Ken Lasser, wife Cindy, of San Diego CA; brother Dr. Ted Lasser, wife Sharon of Arvada, CO; sister Robin Lasser Gold and husband Jim Gold of Oakland, CA; brother-in-law David Foster and wife Vicky, of Clinton, OK; sister-in-law Vicki Smith and husband Edward of Oklahoma City, OK; and former spouse Kathy Belford Gall of Boulder, CO. He was preceded in death by his mother, Phyllis Adler Lasser.A memorial service will be held at 2 P.M., Saturday, February 25th, 2023, at St Luke's United Methodist Church, 222 N.W. 15th Street, Oklahoma City, OK. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made to Variety Care of Oklahoma.