Lawrence Leser

Lawrence Arthur Leser, aged 89, passed peacefully from this life on October 21, 2024.  He was surrounded by his family throughout his final days.  He is survived by his wife, Charmaine.  Larry and Charmaine enjoyed traveling, playing golf, and spending time with friends and family.  Larry is also survived by his children, Kathy Leser, Larry (Karen), Sharon (Kurt) Baumberger, Nancy (P.J.) Smith, and Charlie (Elizabeth) Johnson, his beloved grandchildren, Katie Baumberger, Griffin (Jordan) Baumberger, Nicholas Smith, Rebecca Smith, Charlie Johnson, Anna Johnson, Jennifer Leser and Kimberly Leser, his niece (Linda Leser), her children (Lindsey Friedmann and Alec Tamplin) and granddaughters, and a nephew (Jeff Leser).  He was preceded in death by Anne Leser, his wife of 28 years.  Through Anne’s remarkable culinary skills, Larry gained an appreciation for fine food and together they enjoyed many happy years until her death in 2002. 

Larry was born May 15, 1935, in Cincinnati, to Lawrence and Evelyn Leser.  A member of the class of 1953, Larry attended St. Xavier High School, an institution with which he forged a lifelong and unshakeable bond and from which he took to heart its motto, “a man for others.” After graduation, Larry continued his Jesuit education at Xavier University, and he graduated in 1957 as a top accounting student.  

In his professional career, Larry demonstrated extraordinary capability. Beginning in public accounting at the firm then known as Haskins & Sells, Larry came to the attention of the E.W. Scripps Company, which he joined in 1967. Larry ultimately rose to become the President and Chief Executive Officer of the E.W. Scripps Company in 1985, and the Chairman of its board of directors in 1994. During his tenure, he grew the core businesses of newspaper publishing and broadcasting, and he also developed the cable TV and entertainment divisions. Larry’s career afforded him opportunities to engage with other business leaders across the spectrum of media companies, notable creators of content (his affinity for Peanuts grew from his dealings with Charles Schulz), and national leaders. For many years, he prized attending the annual Gridiron dinner in Washington D.C.  Larry navigated taking Scripps public in 1988, and under his stewardship, Scripps grew its media and syndication businesses while divesting its cable TV distribution business. Larry championed the successful creation of Scripps’ cable networks, which rapidly grew to include HGTV, the Food Network, and the Travel Channel, all of which were spun off as the heart of a new company, Scripps Network Interactive. At its Knoxville headquarters, Larry was commemorated in honor of his 75th birthday with the naming of “Lake Leser.” Larry retired as CEO of Scripps in 1996 and continued to serve as Chairman for an additional year.   

Larry also served on the board of Key Bank, N.A., Union Central Life Insurance Company, AK Steel Corporation, and Heekin Can Inc.

A living testament to the opportunities bestowed by his own outstanding education, Larry was a fierce advocate of education and was devoted to St. Xavier High School and Xavier University.  He endowed a scholarship fund at St. Xavier High School in the name of his parents to honor their sacrifice in sending him there.  He served as a member of the St. Xavier High School board of directors from 2006-2012, and in 2005 was honored with the Insignis award, its highest honor, which recognizes graduates who served God, their family, and their community in an outstanding manner. He was a similarly generous benefactor of Xavier University, where he endowed the Lawrence and Anne Leser scholarship fund for St. X graduates with financial need.  Larry served as a member of the Xavier University board of directors for 21 years and as an “Executive in Residence” at the Williams College of Business.  Larry was a recipient of the Xavier University Founders Day award.  He was an indefatigable supporter of both his beloved Bombers and Musketeers. 

In 2018, Larry was inducted into the Greater Cincinnati Business Hall of Fame.  He also received the University of Cincinnati’s Frederic Ziv Award for his work in telecommunications.

Larry was a former member of the Kenwood Country Club, the Queen City Club, the Commercial Club, the University Club of New York, and the Golf Club.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, October 26, 2024, at 11 a.m. at Bellarmine Chapel on the campus of Xavier University. Parking is available in the Husman Hall lot or the C-1 lot behind Husman Hall. Private interment for the family only will follow at the Indian Hill Church.  In lieu of flowers, please direct donations to St. Xavier High School or the Freestore Foodbank in honor of Lawrence A. Leser.