Larry was enrolled in Pershing Junior High School where he met his future wife, Susan Schlamme, and a group of boys who were to become his lifelong friends. He was entrusted as the keeper of the Pershing Panda, the mascot for their football games. Larry became an active member of Loeb AZA, where he became chapter President. Popular not only with the boys in AZA, Larry was equally well liked by the girls of BBG, and became Beau of Carsch BBG.

Throughout his teen years and continuing into adulthood, Larry and his friends participated in city softball, football and basketball leagues through the Houston Jewish Community Center.

Larry spent two years at Washington University, and then transferred to the University of Texas where he earned his undergraduate degree in Sociology. While working on his Masters degree doing diabetes research at the University of Houston he married Susan in 1974. Their daughter, Marla, was born February 25, 1976 joining Larry, Susan and her son Dylan, to make a family of four. Larry and Susan’s home was always welcoming and open, so much so that they built on a special den which served as a gathering place for AZA members and Larry’s buddies who would sit around enjoying themselves watching sports on television.

In 1975 he began his life-long association with the B’nai B’rith Youth Organization when he became advisor for Cyrus Adler AZA, a position he held until his untimely death in 1990.

Also in 1975, he joined the family business, Massin Office Supply, ultimately becoming President of the company. Because of his affiliation with the office supply industry, he became very active in NOPA, the National Office Products Association, at the local level and serving as a National Board member.

Larry was an avid runner, participating in the New York Marathon and in the Houston Tenneco Marathon.

As a young man, Larry was very active in the ADL and served on the Boards of the Hillel Foundation of Greater Houston and the Jewish National Fund. He was also an active volunteer with Congregation Emanu El.

Larry’s life came to an untimely and all too-early end at age 42 while he was jogging in Memorial Park on November 19, 1990. His funeral, officiated by Rabbi Roy Walter of Congregation Emanu El, was one of the most widely attended at the time by former Cyrus Adler AZA members whom he had counseled and advised. The presence of Larry’s friends and associates from volunteer organizations with which he had been involved was a testament to his popularity. Very well known and loved in the Jewish community as well as in the community at large, Larry was a true humanitarian who cared very much about children and the society in which he lived. He was always a smiling, friendly, caring man, and the community suffered a great loss on his passing.

When the plans for a permanent home for Houston’s college students became a reality, Larry’s loving family and friends were quick to respond. Because of his love and devotion to sports, and his care and dedication to young people, which he translated into involvement and action, it seemed appropriate for his mother Mabel and sister Michelle to spearhead a fundraising effort, supported by many generous donors. It was natural to blend Larry’s two passions into the creation of a sports room for students to enjoy.

In a loving and fitting tribute, this Larry Massin Sports Lounge was endowed in the Ida and William Zinn Hillel Student Center in 1997. May Larry Massin’s memory be perpetuated by the dedication of this Sports Lounge for future generations to use and enjoy, and to remember this extraordinary man, who made this possible.