West Chester Businessman, Lifelong Resident Oscar Lasko Dies At 96

Image and obituary via Della Vecchia, Reilly, Smith, and Boyd Funeral Home

WEST CHESTER, PA --Oscar Louis Lasko, 96, of West Chester, Pa. passed away on April 2, 2017 at his home in West Chester Pa. surrounded by wife and loved ones.

Born Nov. 4, 1920, he was the son of the late Henry Lasko and Sarah (Kovner) Lasko

He was the husband of 47 years to Vivian Simkins Lasko.

Oscar was born and raised in West Chester, Pa. He went to West Chester High School and in his senior year went to Malvern Prep. He attended college at the University of Pennsylvania and graduated with a degree Mechanical Engineering. Shortly after college he entered Merchant Marines and served on a Liberty ship as an engineer delivering gasoline during the War.

He returned from the war and went to work with his father and brother at Lasko Metal Products for his entire life. He built the company manufacturing facilities in West Chester (Pa.), Franklin (Tennessee), Columbia (Pa), and Ft Worth (Texas). Lasko became the largest home comfort products company in the US under his leadership.

Over the years, he had many devoted employees who were with the company their whole working career. This made him very proud. He instituted an employee profit sharing program which was very advanced for his time and a fair thing to do.

As a resident of the West Chester Community for his entire life he used his success in business to give back to the Community. In particular, he worked with the West Chester YMCA to set up the “Believe and Achieve Program” and fund renovations and general improvement. He worked with the Boy Scouts of Chester County and he helped fund the religious school at Kesher Israel Congregation. The Lasko Tower at the Chester County Hospital was funded through Oscar and others. He also formed the Lasko Family Foundation which supports various Jewish charities but also general vocational training in Philadelphia as well.

Lastly Oscar enjoyed various outdoor activities, the Jersey shore, the Philadelphia Eagles and horses. But in his later years he loved to be with his grandchildren. He will be greatly missed.

In addition to his wife he is survived by his children Gail, Bill, Robin, and Jaye, daughter in-law Janet Lasko and his son in law Hugh Hagen, grandchildren Joshua, Rebecca, Daniel, and Robert and step grandchildren Jake and Joshua.

He was predeceased by his first wife and mother of his four children Estelle Litvin Lasko and brothers Albert and Harry Lasko.

Relatives and friends are invited to his Funeral Service 10 am Wednesday April 5, 2017 at the Kesher Israel Synagogue, 1000 Pottstown Pike, West Chester, Pa. Interment will be at Haym Salomon Memorial Park in Malvern, Pa.

Following the internment, the family invites you to join them for a light luncheon at Kesher Israel.

The family will again return to Kesher Israel for a minyan and to receive condolences in the evening beginning at 7:00PM.

In lieu of flowers please send donations to any of following YMCA of West Chester, 1 East Chestnut Street, West Chester, PA 19380; 2) Chester County Boy Scouts of America, 504 S Concord Rd, West Chester, PA 19382; 3) Neighborhood Hospice, 400 East Marshall Street, West Chester, PA 19380; 4) Community Volunteers in Medicine 300 Lawrence Dr, West Chester, PA 19380

Charitable donations may be made to:

YMCA
1 Chestnut Street, West Chester PA 19380

Chester County Boy Scouts of America
504 S Concord Rd, West Chester PA 19382

Neighborhood Hospice
795 East Marshall St., West Chester PA 19380

Community Volunteers in Medicine
300 Lawrence Dr,, West Chester PA 19380

Kesher Israel Congregation
1000 Pottstown Pike, West Chester PA 19380