BARON HENRY "BUD" ASHER

Baron Henry "Bud" Asher, age 88, of Daytona Beach, FL, died at his home with family and loved ones around him at 09:57 a.m. on July 5, 2013. On Tuesday, July 9, 2013, the family will receive friends and celebrate Bud's life between the hours of 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. at Lohman Funeral Home Ormond; 733 W. Granada Blvd., Ormond Beach. Live music will be provided between the hours of 5:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., followed by a brief prayer service. On Wednesday, July 10, 2013, at 11:00 a.m., a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, followed by an internment with military honors and a fly-over at Daytona Memorial Park, 1425 Bellevue Avenue, Daytona Beach. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made in Bud's memory to one of the following: the "Bud Asher Foundation", 4645 S Clyde Morris Blvd, Suite 401, Port Orange, FL 32129; The Halifax Humane Society, 2364 LPGA Blvd. Daytona Beach, FL 32124; Halifax Health Hospice of Volusia /Flagler, 3800 Woodbriar Drive, Port Orange, FL 32129 or the Salvation Army, 1555 LPGA Blvd. Daytona Beach, FL 32129.
Bud was born May 27, 1925 to Baron Hirsch Asher and Erna Fromme Asher of Atlanta, Georgia. A graduate of Tech High in Atlanta, Asher enlisted in the Navy in 1943, where he served in the Pacific as an airborne gunnery instructor and later combat tail gunner with Torpedo Squadron 8 aboard the aircraft carriers Bunker Hill and Bennington, earning 2 Air Medals and multiple unit citation and theater ribbons. Following his honorable discharge from the Navy at the close of World War II, Asher attended the Univ. of Tennessee and later earned his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Georgia. While practicing law in Atlanta, Asher continued what would become a lifelong, passionate support of the University of Georgia through his activities as Secretary of the Georgia Bulldog Club, where he was instrumental in recruiting future NFL stars Fran Tarkenton and Zeke Bratkowski, among others, to play for the Bulldogs. Having played and coached football in the service and with the Georgia All-stars at UGA, Asher left his law practice in 1954 to accept a position as an assistant football coach at Stetson University. During his illustrious coaching career Asher provided guidance and mentorship to thousands of Volusia County youths at all levels ranging from midget league with the Daytona Beach Bulldogs, to local high schools Father Lopez, New Smyrna Beach, Spruce Creek and Mainland, at the college level at Bethune Cookman (College), and with the semi-pro Daytona Beach Thunderbirds of the Continental Football League (where he once came off the sidelines to complete six touchdown passes in a game) and the Jacksonville Sharks of the World Football League. Asher's 60+ years in football also included nearly 30 years as a College and NFL Talent Scout for the San Diego Chargers, Cincinnati Bengals and Oakland Raiders, as well as the last 2 years as color commentator for local radio station WNDB 1150. At the same time he was coaching football, Asher's business interests in Daytona Beach began with the Nassau Villas motel and led to the building of the Safari Beach Motel, a mainstay of the beach-side hotel industry for over 30 years. Asher was a key leader of a group of business and civic leaders in the successful 1961 effort to bring the growing college spring break phenomena to Daytona Beach. Asher's other business interests included owning various night clubs, beachside motels, restaurants, nursing homes and serving as a Player Representative to the National Football League. In addition to serving 2 years as a Judge for the City of New Smyrna Beach, Asher's civic leadership of Daytona Beach included 12 consecutive years as City Commissioner from District 2 followed by 8 years as Mayor, where he oversaw the development of the Main Street and Boardwalk business districts, the building of the ISB bridge, the Community Christmas Club, and one project of particular pride, the Hope Six housing project re-development on Daytona's west side. Asher also represented Daytona Beach and other communities as a member of the Public Safety Committee of the National League of Cities following the 9/11 attacks. Since retiring as Mayor, Asher has continued his public service as a board member of the Friends of the Bandshell, the University Club, the Bud Asher Foundation and the city's Race and Recreation Committee, where he led efforts to install the artificial turf (known informally as "Bud's Rug") at Mayor Kelly Stadium. Asher enjoyed traveling, snow skiing, Broadway musicals, great food and entertaining friends, family & co-workers at their home. He has been an active member over the years of the Shriners, Kiwanis' and Quarterback Clubs in Daytona Beach. He was a lifetime member of the American Football Coaches Association and the Georgia Bar Association, and is an inductee of the Florida High School Football Coaches Hall of Fame. Asher is survived by his wonderful wife of 27 years, Dawn Ioviero Asher of Daytona Beach; his son, Baron "Ron" Asher; daughter-in-law Tina Zeitler Asher; and granddaughter Cameron Leigh Asher of San Diego, CA; his daughter Marybeth Asher-Lawson; son-in-law, Scott Lawson; and granddaughter Grace Lian Lawson of Hong Kong, China; his step-son Louis Fiore and grandchildren Airman Anthony Fiore, USAF, of Tocoma, WA, and Luke & Abbey Fiore of Ormond Beach, FL; and his step-daughter Wendy Fiore Bentley and son-in-law Brian Bentley of New Smyrna Beach, FL; mother-in-law Helen Ioviero Fama of Daytona Beach, FL; and his brother, Col. Eugene S. Asher, USMC(R), of Atlanta, GA. Asher also leaves behind 2 rescued Siberian Huskies, "Stormy" and "Roxy". Arrangements are under the care of Lohman Funeral Home Ormond. Condolences for the family may be shared at www.lohmanfuneralhomes.com