Lawrence Gilbert Mass

Lawrence G. Mass (February 3, 1936 - May 19, 2024)

Lawrence Gilbert Mass ("Larry" or "Doc") died on May 19, 2024, at the age of 88 in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida after a brief illness. Larry was born in Brooklyn, New York on February 3, 1936, to Gertrude (Bober) Mass and Max Mass. He grew up with his sister Penny in Brooklyn in a household that included his grandparents and an aunt, Goldie Bober Kweller who was like an older sister. After graduating from Thomas Jefferson High School at age 16, he left to attend Alfred University on a full scholarship. After Alfred, Larry went to NYU Dental School. He met his future bride, Judy, when he was a waiter at the Tamarac hotel in the Catskills and they married in 1960. Upon graduating dental school, Larry did his basic training at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas and then served for two years as a dentist at Fort Gordon Army Hospital in Augusta Georgia. Larry and Judy returned to the New York area after his army service where they raised their three children. He developed a large dental practice in Bayside New York and was loved by so many patients.

Larry was the life of every party and loved telling jokes. In 1992, his patients, friends and family encouraged him to enter a comedy contest for dentists sponsored by Colgate to launch its newest toothpaste: "Stand-up Colgate". Larry came in second place and had a great time. In addition to telling jokes, he loved to golf, play bridge and have a Bombay Safire Martini or single malt scotch with friends and family. Larry was an active and beloved member of Glen Head Country Club in Glen Head, New York and Ballen Ilses in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida where he lived full time after retiring.

Larry is survived by his wife Judy, sister Penny Mass Leifer (Noel) and children Richard, Jeffrey (Nora Coffey) and Andrea Goodman (Larry), grandchildren Rebecca Donnenfeld (Jake), Maddie Goodman and Carrie Goodman as well as loving nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to your favorite charity in his memory or make a donation to one of his favorite charities: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre.