Marie Lazar earns Life Master and Bronze Life Master Awards


Marie Lazar earned the silver points she needed to earn her Life Master this fall at the Mesa Sectional tournament. As Marie had over 500 points, she also earned the Bronze Life Master Award at the same time. Marie lives in Sedona, Arizona.

Marie was born and raised in Iowa with a younger sister and brother. She has always been physically active having learned to swim at a summer home and ride horses at a young age. She was, until recently, an avid downhill skier and backpacker-hiker.

Marie went to the University of Iowa and originally majored in music (she was a violinist and pianist); until her advisor decided she wasn't single minded enough to pursue a career in music. She showed an interest in many subjects while in the university, including Drama Club, Science, Creative Writing, Politics, Bridge and, boys. She graduated with a degree in English Literature and a minor in Chemistry, and a husband. While working on her M.A. in Comparative Literature, she had her first daughter, Kathy.

After they finished at the University of Iowa, Bob and Marie moved to Washington D.C. where they pursued their PHDs at George Washington University. Bob's PHD was in Journalism and Marie's in the use of Creative Drama for disabled and handicapped children. They had their second daughter, Susan while in Washington. Marie had the opportunity to meet and interact with several interesting and well-known liberals who served as mentors in her future career in politics.

Next, they moved to Phoenix/Scottsdale where Bob began a career as Entertainment Editor for the Arizona Republic. Several years later he began a syndicated entertainment column which was carried in many papers in the United States. He also branched out into doing some TV work. Marie continued with her music and became politically active. She had always been interested in social and political causes and it was a great time to put that interest to work. Marie helped organize the Arizona Democratic Council. She volunteered in civic and community and education groups and liberal political organizations.


Marie and her family became involved in the theater scene in Phoenix, performing on stage at the Phoenix Little Theater and the Scottsdale Stagebrush Theater. They both directed and served on the Board of Directors at various times. Marie was among the founders of the Phoenix Children's Theater.

After the Phoenix years, Marie and Bob moved to Los Angeles, feeling that the proximity to more entertainment activities would be beneficial to his career. While in L.A., they had their third child, a son named Eric. In spite of the additional responsibilities of another baby, Marie continued with her political work and had a very exciting career working for state and national candidates, ballot initiatives, office holders and several movement and activist groups. Los Angeles, while providing a larger scene of action for Bob’s career, also opened the door for Marie as well. She became proficient in writing for grants for liberal causes and organizations, and also known as a fund raiser for all these activities as well as an efficient coordinator and manager. Marie was on staff and a spokesperson for both movement and political concerns.

Despite all the involvement in work and politics, Marie and Bob put their children first in their lives. They traveled a lot, flying to interesting locations, renting a car, and just touring. As often as possible, the children, especially the baby, went along. While many of the trips were for pleasure only, some of the travel was important to Bob for his writing.

After Bob died, Marie and her youngest child, Eric, the only one left at home, moved to a ski resort in the Eastern Sierras. In Mammoth Lakes, CA, they skied and hiked, and continued to travel, spending one long summer in China, more or less on their own. Marie became active in the Mono County Democratic Committee, heading that organization for many years and traveling to conventions and conferences. She was active in the Friends of Mammoth, a civic group, and the Sierra Club. She continued to write for grants and proposals, especially for assistance for children-at-risk-of-abuse-or-neglect. The program was expanded to include young parents, often single mothers. This grant served as a model for all of California.

In 1990, Marie's son Eric left for college and she filled a hole in her life with her Shi Tzu, Dolly. Dolly left us and her void has been filled by Cindy. In 1998 Marie moved to Sedona. She has not been as active as previously, but she reads a lot, and will research anything for anyone, especially her four college-age grand children. She spends a lot of time just adoring her 4-year-old-twin grandchildren, Madelyn Rose and Jared, as well as her 4 year old great granddaughter, Layla. She also plays a lot of duplicate bridge. She remembers her husband who was a cracker-jack bridge player and how much he would have enjoyed this stage of life.

Marie has been active in the Sedona Bridge Center as a member of the Board of Directors for the past few years. She especially enjoys organizing and coordinating the Christmas Pot Luck luncheon.

Among other players, one of Marie's favorite partners is Bea Wing. Bea is 98 this year and a worthy competitor. Last year, Bea and Marie came in first place overall in the Sedona Club's Christmas Pot Luck game (over 15 tables).

Unit 355 wishes to congratulate Marie on achieving her Life Master and Bronze Life Master Awards.