Robert Lurie
Robert “Bob” Lurie, age 86, passed away at his home in Brookline on July 16, 2018. Bob was born in Boston on the 4th of July, 1932, the youngest of three brothers, Harold and Melvin. His parents, Samuel and Sadye, raised their family in the Geneva Avenue neighborhood of Dorchester, MA. Bob graduated English High School, and then enrolled at Boston University as a commuter student. He graduated BU with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration in 1953. Bob served in the US Army between 1953 and 1955, and was stationed in West Germany.
Upon returning home, he married Syrul Frank, whom he had first met when they were both in their early teens. Syrul and Bob were married for 62 years until his passing. Bob and Syrul had three children, Andrew Warren Lurie, who predeceased Bob in 1980, Howard Alan Lurie and his wife, Teresa Betit, and Ellen Lurie Hoffman and her husband Matthew. Bob was enormously proud of his four grandchildren, with whom he talked almost every day: Aliza Miranda Lurie, Gemma Louisa Lurie, Celia Lena Hoffman, and Isabel Rose Hoffman.
Bob had a long and distinguished career as an innovator in the women’s apparel business. Initially a salesman for Designer’s Originals, he went on to become the CEO and co-founder of Susan Bristol, a popular line of women’s career wear during the 1980s and 1990s.
Bob was instrumental in creating the 21st Century Fund at Brookline High School, a pioneering effort to create local philanthropy in support of public education. He was also active in the Celebrity Series and Artists for Humanity. He was a lifelong member of Temple Israel.
A lifelong swimmer, Bob enjoyed summers on Cape Cod his entire life.
Services at Temple Israel, 477 Longwood Ave., Boston (parking on the Riverway) on Wednesday, July 18, 2018 at 12:00 noon. Following interment at Sharon Memorial Park, memorial observance will be held at his residence until 8:00 pm, and on Thursday 2- 4 pm.
In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Andrew Warren Lurie Scholarship Fund, c/o Brookline High School, 115 Greenough Ave., Brookline, MA 02445.