Those we lost in Palm Beach during the 2020-2021 season
12 min readSept. 21, 2020
Carole Rose (Neri) Lembo
A nun and a member of the laity, Carole Rose Lembo was a graduate of the Dwight School for Girls and Manhattanville College. She held a master of science degree in psychological counseling and a Master of Arts degree in European history.
Upon graduation, she entered the convent and was a religious of the Society of the Sacred Heart at the Convent in Albany, New York. She served as mistress of novices for the United States as well as head of Sacred Heart School in New York City. After leaving the convent in 1969, she continued her work in education holding positions as director of admissions at Newton College of the Sacred Heart, head of admissions at the Spence School in New York City, and director of the Episcopal Nursery School in New York City.
She served on various charity boards including Opportunity Early Childhood Education and Family Center in West Palm Beach, where she was director of the Mary Alice Fortin Center and was honored with the Anthony Award for advocacy for children. She also served on the board of trustees of the Palm Beach United Way, and as a Eucharistic minister and pastoral counselor at Good Samaritan Medical Center, and a volunteer at Lourdes-Noreen McKeen.
Oct. 6, 2020
Evie Glenn
A native of Michigan, entrepreneur and business leader Evie Glenn of Ponte Vedra Beach spent much of her life in Palm Beach. She was 87.
Mrs. Glenn attended St. John Cantius School and Felician Academy in Detroit and Michigan State University, where she received a bachelor’s degree in education.
She taught school, then later founded and franchised Joli Salons in Detroit. She and her late husband, Dr. Thomas H. Glenn, were owners of Palm Beach Motor Cars in the 1970s, the first Rolls Royce dealers in the Palm Beaches.
She was a Eucharistic minister and taught Confraternity of Christian Doctrine classes at St. Edward Church. She also was a VIP volunteer for the Palm Beach Police Academy.
Oct. 8, 2020
Shawn Donnelly
Shawn Donnelly, a former Palm Beach resident and brother of Shannon Donnelly of the Palm Beach Daily News, died in Renton, Washington, from the effects of diabetes. He was 63.
Mr. Donnelly moved to Washington state in the ’80s where he began his career in the automobile business. He and his business partner, Tony Rubino, formed a karaoke business.
Oct. 20, 2020
Lawrence B. Katzen
Dr. Lawrence Katzen, a pioneer in the field of laser vision correction, died from stomach cancer. He was 71.
He and his two brothers, who also became physicians, were raised on Miami Beach. He was a graduate of Miami Beach High School, the University of Miami and the University of Miami School of Medicine.
Dr. Katzen was fond of helping train doctors in underserved countries through Project Orbis. The organization operates a Flying Eye Hospital allowing doctors to train local ophthalmologists, medical students and nurses in underserved countries. He made 19 such trips abroad. He also was a founding member of the Richard David Kann Melanoma Foundation.
Nov. 3, 2020
Curt Newman
Curt Newman, 92, a resident of Palm Beach for more than 50 years, died at JFK Medical Center in Atlantis after a fall. Mr. Newman ran an international property investment company, with offices in London, New York and Palm Beach.
He was a longtime member of The English-Speaking Union.
Nov. 22, 2020
Robert C. Baker
Robert C. Baker, a real estate developer, died at 85.
Mr. Baker earned his baccalaureate and law degrees from Yale University. In 2018, Yale named a new academic, social, and residential hub for law students the Robert C. and Christina Baker Hall, in honor of his and his wife’s gift toward its development.
Mr. Baker founded and served as chairman and CEO of National Realty Development Corp., one of the nation’s largest privately-owned real estate development companies.
Nov. 24, 2020
Louis Pryor
Louis C. Pryor, a retired executive, World War II veteran and chairman emeritus of the Palm Beach Civic Association, died at age 97.
Born in Argentina, he earned a degree in business administration from the University of Reading’s Henley Business School. Mr. Pryor then joined the British Royal Navy, and attended Officer Graduate College, after which he was selected as an Honor Guard officer at the official surrender in Singapore of all Japanese forces in Southeast Asia to Adm. Lord Louis Mountbatten. At war’s end, Mr. Pryor declined a permanent commission in the navy and British citizenship, choosing instead to return to Argentina and begin his career with DuPont, where he spent most of his professional life.
Mr. Pryor retired in 1985 from DuPont and moved to Palm Beach, where he became active in the Palm Beach Civic Association and later became its chairman. He formed the Beach Restoration Committee, the forerunner of today’s Shore Protection Board. Mr. Pryor also promoted “Save Our Homes,” a campaign to put a stop to spiraling property taxes.
Dec. 18, 2020
Casey O’Connor
Retired journalist Casey O’Connor, died after a short battle with Stage 4 colon cancer. He was 75 years old.
A n
ative of New Orleans, Mr. O’Connor spent much of his career as a freelance travel writer but also worked as a writer, editor and photographer for a variety of daily and weekly publications. He worked at the Orlando Sentinel, the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, the Palm Beach Daily News and The Palm Beach Post before settling in Charleston, South Carolina, where he worked for the Charleston Regional Business Journal.
Dec. 29, 2020
Mollye Sue Block
Mollye Sue Block, who co-developed a women’s health conference, died. She was 72.
She grew up in Newton, Massachusetts and was a graduate of Brimmer and May School and Lesley University, where she received her bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in special education. She opened a private practice as a special education counselor for young people in need of educational guidance and support, specializing in students with dyslexia.
Having survived cancer as a young woman, she co-developed A Woman’s Journey, a women’s health conference that empowers women to make health care decisions for themselves and those they love.
Mrs. Block was a trustee and national spokesperson for the National Stroke Association.
Edward K. Asplundh died at Abington Memorial Hospital in Pennsylvania. He was 88. Mr. Asplundh worked for 34 years at the Asplundh Tree Expert Co., a family owned utility business, founded in 1928 by his father, Carl Asplundh, and uncles Griffith and Lester. Edward Asplundh served as president of the company from 1982 to 1992, when he retired.
Mr. Asplundh graduated with a degree in accounting from the Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania in 1954, also serving in the Air Force ROTC during his years at university. He entered the United States Air Force as a second lieutenant in January 1955. After leaving the Air Force in 1958, Mr. Asplundh continued to fly privately into his late 70s.
Jan. 6, 2021
Eileen Curran
Eileen C. Curran, a former member of the Shore Protection Board, died at 93.
She was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., and showed early promise as a classical soprano. She earned a scholarship to Brooklyn’s Saint Savior High School. She attended Manhattanville College on a music scholarship. While there, she also studied vocal music at Juilliard.
Mrs. Curran was a board member of the Citizens Association-South of Sloane’s Curve.
Jan. 6, 2020
Helen Goodhue
Helen Dempwolf Goodhue of Palm Beach and Northeast Harbor, Maine, former president of the Garden Club of Palm Beach, died at 93.
A graduate of Chatham Hall and Bryn Mawr College, she
and her committee published the second Garden Club of Palm Beach Cookbook. She served as club president from 1997- 99.
Jan. 12
Donald Beuttenmuller, Jr.
Donald Beuttenmuller, a standout athlete and attorney, died at 73 after battling COVID-19.
A native of West Palm Beach, Mr. Beuttenmuller was part of the first freshman class at Cardinal Newman High School, where he was class president all four years. He was named MVP of the Crusaders’ football team. He held two national junior individual swimming records and was a member of a national record-setting relay team.
He served as an assistant state attorney for the 15th Judicial Circuit of Florida, before joining the Gunster law firm, where he practiced for the last 40 years.
Jan.15, 2021
Carlota Webster
Carlota Clark Chouteau Busch Webster, better known as Lotsie, died at her Palm Beach home at 93.
Born in in St. Louis, she was the daughter of August A. Busch, Jr. and Marie Christie Busch. At 19, she married John Flanigan
. With her father, she started Busch Gardens in Tampa, Williamsburg and Los Angeles.
Jan. 16, 2021
Robert E. Malesardi
Robert E. Malesardi, who opened and owned what is today the Four Seasons Resort and Spa Palm Beach, died at his waterfront home in Oxford, Maryland. He was 96.
Mr. Malesardi was born in The Bronx, New York, and grew up in Tenafly, New Jersey. He entered Bucknell University at age 16, where he was a commerce and finance major. At age 20, he was the youngest commissioned officer in the U.S. Navy.
After graduating, Mr. Malesardi worked in New York City for a ”Big 8” accounting firm, but soon decided commuting wasn’t for him. He founded the CPA firm Malesardi, Quackenbush & Swift in Englewood, N.J., and also became a real estate investor and developer.
Jan. 17, 2021
Frances Rhoda (Bachman) Cole
Rhoda Cole, former president of the Palm Beach Board of Realtors, died at 94.
Mrs. Cole was born in Newark, New Jersey, grew up in Brooklyn and graduated from Samuel Tilden High School.
After moving to West Palm Beach, Mrs. Cole entered the real estate business, with the Perrini Corp., specializing in commercial properties. She later opened Cole Real Estate, concentrating in condominiums, mostly on Palm Beach. She went on to become president of the Palm Beach Board of Realtors and the Palm Beach Realtor/Attorney Joint Committee and was once named Realtor of the Year award in Palm Beach. She was president of B’nai Brith, and started the Palm Beach chapter of Hadassah.
Jan. 31, 2021
Theresa Ferguson Carnes
Theresa “Terry” Carnes, a Palm Beach native, died in West Palm Beach. She was 72.
Mrs. Carnes graduated from Palm Beach High School and then attended Converse College. She earned her degree in elementary education from the University of Colorado.
She taught first grade students at Palm Beach Day Academy until retiring in 2013.
Jan. 31, 2021
Maurice A. Harary
Jeweler Maurice Harary died at his home in West Palm Beach. He was 104.
He was born on July 4, 1916, in New York City and spent his childhood in North Africa and France and returned to the United States at the age of 20. He served in North Africa in World War II as a spy in the Counter-Intelligence Corps of the U.S. Army. Mr. Harary and his brother Joseph earned medals for their distinguished service to their country.In 1957, he opened Maison Maurice. The store is celebrating its 64th year on Worth Avenue.
Feb. 10, 2021
Bernard L. Segal
Dr. Bernard L. Segal, a cardiologist of Villanova, Pennsylvania and Palm Beach, died after a brief illness. He was 91.
Once in practice, he developed the Philadelphia Heart Institute at Presbyterian Medical Center. After 10 years at Presbyterian, Allegheny University persuaded him to develop a new cardiovascular network there. In 1998, Dr. Segal and his faculty joined Thomas Jefferson University, where he served for 10 years as director of cardiology.
His 12 books and 375 scientific papers established him as a leader in the field of cardiology. Dr. Segal also served on the editorial boards of several medical journals.
March 4, 2021
Joyce W. McLendon
Longtime Palm Beach resident Joyce McLendon died at the age of 94.
A native of Auburn, Indiana, Mrs. McLendon was
a founder and chair of The Lord’s Place; named Woman of the Year for the Executive Women of Palm Beach, the Association of Professional Fundraisers, and the Junior League; chair of the Arthritis Foundation; a founding member of the Fellowship of Christians and Jews and a member of the Scripps Florida Council.
Later in life she met Sam McLendon, former Town Council president, on the Palm Beach tennis courts. She served on the recreation commission.
March 7, 2021
Carl J. Shapiro
Carl Shapiro, a businessman and philanthropist, died at his Boston home. He was 108.
Mr. Shapiro was an investor in stocks, bonds and commodities. He also was one of Bernie Madoff’s biggest investors and it is believed the Shapiro family lost at least $545 million to Madoff, including about $145 million from the family foundation and $250 million that Mr. Shapiro had invested just weeks before the scandal was uncovered.
Mr. Shapiro agreed to repay $625 million from his investment profits to federal authorities who were recovering money for Madoff’s victims. He admitted no wrongdoing as part of the settlement.
The Shapiros were active in philanthropy in Palm Beach and Boston, supporting the Norton Museum, The Kravis Center, Brandeis University, Dana-Farber Cancer Center, Brigham & Women’s Hospital, the Children’s Museum of Boston, The U.S Holocaust Museum, Hebrew Senior Life, the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Museum of Fine Arts. At Brandeis University, Mr. Shapiro served on the board of trustees from 1979 to 1988, and received an honorary degree in 2003.
March 15, 2021
Howard C. Story, Jr.
Howard C. Story, Jr. died less than a month from his 101st birthday.
He was born in Philadelphia and attended Germantown Academy and the University of Pennsylvania. After Pearl Harbor, he enlisted in the Army and was deployed to Scotland and from there his company was sent on assignments to Tamerville, Valognes, and Paris, France, and then to Berlin, Germany.
He received the Republic of France Legion of Honor Medal for his service in France in WWII. After the war, he joined his father’s national Newspaper Advertising Representative firm, Story, Brooks & Finley. After becoming its chairman, he merged the company, which became known as Story, Kelly-Smith, Inc.
Jane Sholts Fetterly
Jane Fetterly, 84, died after a brief illness.
A contributor to the Palm Beach Daily News for 15 years and women’s editor of The Palm Beach Post in the 1960s, her career also included working as the public relations director for The Society of the Four Arts for 19 years and as an administrative assistant for former county commissioners Dorothy Wilken and Maude Ford Lee.
In 1965, she started the advertising agency, Fred A. Fetterly & Associates, with her late ex-husband, Frederick Fetterly, Jr.
Her sang classical music with the Masterworks Chorus of the Palm Beaches.
April 14, 2021
Lois Foster
Lois Foster, a steadfast supporter of the arts and a longtime winter resident at Sloan’s Curve before moving to Breakers Row, died at age 92.
She was the widow of Henry “Hank” Foster. At the time of his death in 2008, they had been married 60 years. Born Lois Bronstein in Boston, she was raised in Brookline, Massachusetts, where she graduated from Brookline High School and went on to attend Emerson College in Boston. She married Foster, a veterinarian who would later make a fortune as the founder of Charles River Laboratories.
With her husband, Mrs. Foster was a supporter of the arts, particularly of the Rose Art Museum at Brandeis University, where she was a board member. They endowed a contemporary exhibitions fund at the Norton Museum of Art.
April 14, 2021
Bernard L. Madoff
Bernie Madoff, who ran the largest Ponzi scheme in history, died while serving time at the Federal Medical Center in Butner, North Carolina. He was 81.
More:Disgraced financier Bernie Madoff dies in prison
The former chairman of the Nasdaq stock market, Mr. Madoff cultivated an image of himself as a savvy, self-made, and reputable money manager. He encouraged thousands of people, from Hollywood film stars to his Palm Beach and New York City neighbors, to invest billions of dollars.
Madoff, who for years had a seasonal home in Palm Beach, pleaded guilty in March 2009to running the Ponzi scheme — estimated at $17 billion — and was serving a 150-year prison sentence. Although original estimates had the Ponzi scheme at $65 billion, much of that is the result of fictitious profits recorded by Madoff.
U.S. District Judge Denny Chin sentenced Mr. Madoff to the maximum 150 years in prison. Madoff also suffered financial losses: A $171 billion forfeiture order in June 2009 relieved him of all personal property, including real estate, investments, and $80 million in assets his wife claimed were hers, leaving her with $2.5 million.
Dale Archer McNulty, a longtime resident who served as president of the board of the Palm Beach Symphony, died April 26,
After graduating from Fairfield University in Connecticut, he had a nearly 40-year career as a member of the New York Stock Exchange.
He was an ardent music lover and supported the Palm Beach Symphony, using his money and his business expertise to pull the organization back from the abyss.
He would later become president of the symphony board.
