Pierre A. CARASSO

CARASSO, Pierre A. 10/17/1929 - 3/7/2017 Beneath the blue sky of the Sonoran Desert and in the company of his beloved wife and friends, Pierre Albert Carasso departed on March 7th after gracing our world for 87 years. Always kindly and caring, Pierre was also strong and resilient. He reveled in laughter and had that knack for making others laugh with him. He pursued with passion his interests including tennis, soccer, travel, films, flowers, fine wine and gourmet food, not to mention a curious fondness for Sonoran hot dogs and an overriding passion for desserts. Pierre cherished traditional and contemporary fine arts, the symphony, the opera and ballet. Pierre was generous of spirit and philanthropy. Above all, he loved and was devoted to his countless friends. Pierre had an insatiable intellect and could be found regularly either buried in a book or a classroom even as an octogenarian. This intelligence and independent thinking was infused with a pointed sense of fairness and respect. Such was his integrity and ethics that, as a financial manager, he refused to fire his employees, an act of conscience that resulted in the loss of his position. Survived by his adoring wife of 32 years, Gayle Roberts Carasso, Pierre's spirit lives on in his two sons, Douglas (Kimberly) and Daniel (Judie) as well as Bonnie, wife of Pierre's third son David who was lost to him two years ago. These sons and daughters-in-law gave Pierre twelve wonderful grandchildren plus four great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother, Roger Carasso (Roberta) and cousin, Jacqueline Wallace. Born in Paris, France, the son of the late Lucy and Albert Carasso, Pierre relocated to the US with his parents at age 9, arriving in New York City where he first met his two life-long friends, Herb Klagsbrun and Frank Lachmann. There he attended Horace Mann-Lincoln school, class of '47, after which he studied two years at the College of William and Mary before moving West and ultimately receiving his BA from the University of Utah. Pierre would go on to study at the prestigious Sorbonne University in Paris, but only after serving his country in the US Army for three years during the Korean conflict. He began his career on Wall Street while pursuing his MBA in Economics and Finance at New York University. Pierre was a Certified Financial Planner and Investment Counselor for 45 years and was recognized by Barron's magazine as an "Outstanding Analyst." A Celebration of Life is planned for April. In the spirit of Pierre's generous heart, the family requests memorial donations to the charity of your choice, or the American Heart Association or Peppi's House Hospice. Arrangements by EAST LAWN PALMS MORTUARY.