Melvin F. (’60) and
Leona Weiss (’62) Lazar

Go back

It was September 1956. We were two 17-year-olds from two different Brooklyn high schools who had just started college as freshmen at Bernard M. Baruch School. We were told that we were the class of 1960, and that seemed like an eternity away.

The first day of classes found us both in Management 103 with Professor Sam Ranhand, an entertaining and colorful instructor. Lee thought that Mel was really cute, and she was very impressed by his knowledge of general business. Mel thought that Lee was a cute co-ed, and there was a veteran named Fred in their class who told Mel that she had great potential. He should know, after all, he was an older man!

A week later, we met socially at a house plan dance. Our first date was on the last Saturday night of October 1956, the night the clocks were turned back. We took the subway to Manhattan and saw the movie Giant at Radio City Music Hall. Mel asked Lee out for every future Saturday night. Was that such a good idea? If this didn’t work out, we’d have to see each other in class for the rest of the semester! Well, it’s now 50 years, three children, and six grandchildren later!

Personally, we have Baruch to thank. Professionally, we attribute Mel’s successful accounting career to the wonderful education he received at Baruch—and particularly the guidance and mentoring of Dr. John J.W. Neuner, Mel’s favorite accounting professor. Lee took a year and a half leave of absence from school to work and save some money so that we could get married. She graduated in January 1962. Baruch prepared her for her job as a high school teacher of business and also gave her the entrepreneurial skills to run her own successful business.

We both have very fond memories of our years at Baruch. We feel indebted to the school and are committed to helping to keep the Baruch tradition alive.