Maurice Lazarus Dies at 88

Maurice Lazarus died last week at the age of 88 from lung cancer. His family founded Federated Department Stores and Lazarus himself had an active career in the business through 1982.

Born in Columbus, Ohio, Lazarus graduated from Harvard in 1937 and worked at the Lazarus Department Store, the family business his great-grandfather established. During that time, Maurice's father, Fred Lazarus Jr., helped found Federated Department Stores with other regional stores, including Filene's and Bloomingdale's.

From 1945 to 1958, Lazarus worked at Foley's Department Store in Houston, rising to executive vp. He was named president and treasurer of Filene's in 1958, a post he held until 1964. He stayed active in the company, serving as chairman of its finance committee, through 1982. After retiring from the retail business, he founded Harvard Community Health Plan (now Harvard Pilgrim Health Care).