Leslie Lazarus; Retired Business Owner

Leslie Lazarus, who owned Advanced Heating & Air Conditioning Co. in North Hollywood for 32 years and helped start a Jewish Reconstructionist congregation in the San Fernando Valley, has died at a North Hollywood hospital. He was 67.

A Sherman Oaks resident, Lazarus died Sunday of a heart attack, said his daughter, Lisa Lazarus of Sherman Oaks.

Born in New York City, Lazarus served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II and settled in California with his wife, Lynn, after he was discharged. Lazarus got a job at a heating company in Pasadena and worked in the trade for several years.

In 1953, he started Advanced Heating & Air Conditioning Co. in North Hollywood, which worked on many of the early commercial buildings in the San Fernando Valley. In 1985, Lazarus retired and sold the business to his partner, Art Craft.

In 1965, Lazarus and his wife helped start Congregation Beth Ohr, which is housed at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Studio City.

Lazarus was a member of the Arnold Buckley Sports Chapter of the City of Hope.

In addition to his daughter, Lazarus is survived by his wife of 47 years; son Loren Lazarus of Sherman Oaks; sister Beatrice Blaustein of New Jersey; half-sister Gloria Gersh of Florida, and half-brother Al Levy of Long Island, N.Y.

A funeral was held Tuesday with burial at Eden Memorial Park in Mission Hills. Groman-Eden Mortuary handled the arrangements. Contributions can be made in Lazarus’ name to a charity of the donor’s choice.