Houston Hillel dedicates kitchen Published•Thu, Feb 03, 2011 On Thursday, Jan. 20, Houston Hillel dedicated its newly remodeled meat kitchen in memory of Larry Massin, who died in 1990, when he was 42 years old. Massin spent his life dedicated to Jewish youth. For 15 years, Massin advised Cyrus Adler AZA, and he served on Houston Hillel’s board of directors. When the plans for a permanent home for Houston’s college students became a reality in 1997, Larry’s loving family and friends quickly responded by creating Houston Hillel’s Larry Massin Sports Lounge. Because of Massin’s love and devotion to sports, and his care and dedication to young people, which he translated into involvement and action, it seemed appropriate for his mother Mabel, and sister Michelle Goodmark, to spearhead a fundraising effort, supported by many generous donors. A few years ago, when Mabel chose to establish an endowment for the Larry Massin Sports Lounge, many of Larry’s family and friends participated in the effort, but five friends in particular chose to memorialize Larry through a remodeling project for Houston Hillel’s meat kitchen. When the Hillel Student Center was created, no one imagined the tremendous number of Shabbat dinners and campus lunches that would be served through Houston Hillel’s two kitchens. Ultimately, the meat kitchen no longer could sustain the use, and a complete remodeling project was undertaken this past fall. Thanks to Richard Bamberger, Sandy Baum, Michael Moore, Steve Moore and Roger Sofer, some of Larry Massin’s closest friends, “Larry’s Kitchen” became a reality. According to Rabbi Kenny Weiss, Houston Hillel’s executive director, “It was particularly satisfying to have Mabel here the other day for the kitchen dedication. Mabel, along with her family and Larry’s friends, have created some of the most significant and warm spaces in the Hillel Student Center. The Larry Massin Sports Lounge frequently is crowded with students, who also enjoy the delicious meals prepared in our kitchens. I look forward to continuing to serve our college students in the same way that Larry served so many young people.”