Beth Lasch Producer/Videographer/Editor Been in television since age 11.  Starting out acting with twin sister, then going behind camera for most of career.  Became technically proficient as a camera operator and editor.  Designed and built an editing facility in '93 with family partners, called Lasch Media.  Produced numerous television shows and videos.  Won many awards.  Now created a channel of Rock 'n Roll Archives currently being distributed in U.S. and abroad.  Other cable, mobile and internet programming available for license. Amy Lasch Make-Up Artist/Hair Stylist Callie Lasch Producer/Writer/Director Judith Lasch Executive Producer/Marketing Maven ----    OBITUARY For SUNDAY, MAY 16, 2004               Judith Lasch, long time resident of Middletown, passed away over Mother’s Day weekend due to natural causes.  She was 65.  A television/video producer, author, and scholar, she was also energetic, determined, and inspiring to all who knew her.  Widowed in 1962, at age 23 with a 2-yr-old and newborn twins, Judith believed that education, travel, and meaningful work would provide her and her 3 daughters with opportunities for a full and enriching life.  She committed herself to that premise and set annual goals to achieve it. With only a 9th grade education, no job skills, and limited opportunities for women of the day, Judith began by obtaining reading lists from top colleges and borrowing books from the local library.  She worked a myriad of available jobs and made numerous sacrifices to give her children music, dance, and art classes.  She taught sewing lessons on weekends and worked nights teaching grooming and poise classes to teen girls. Always believing in the importance of community involvement, Judith was a Scout leader and became the youngest President of the local Women’s Club. Over the next 10 years, Judith worked her way up from being a receptionist for clothing designer Bill Blass to the Director of Fashion Sales for Talon in the NYC Garment Center.  She traveled extensively with her young family, from simple summer camping trips to cultural exchange programs in South America and Europe.  During this time, her twins began working in TV commercials, which exposed the Lasches to the world of TV production and set the stage for their collective professional futures. In 1980, recognizing the communications potential and accessibility of cable TV, Judith refocused her sales and marketing skills by creating and hosting the Manhattan TV show “Focus on New York.”   For 18 years, she was recognized for her refreshing interview skills and a lively, unique, and intelligent approach to featured topics.   In 1982, after college, her daughters Callie, Beth, and Amy joined her, forming Lasch Media Productions, a full-service video production company.  The group branched into producing informational and educational videos for school and library markets, repeatedly receiving high commendations and national awards.  Among them, Judith produced and co-hosted the "China-America Exchange," "World Affairs; Women’s Perspectives," and  “Breaking Barriers: A History of the United Nations.”  Lasch Media continues to produce issues-oriented, educational presentations for video, TV, the internet, and school and library markets. A committed life-long learner, Judith Lasch took courses each semester from 1965 to 2003.  She earned her master’s degree in Women’s Studies from CUNY, and holds certificates in public relations, marketing, and journalism from New York University, She also attended NYC’s School of Visual Arts and Parson’s School of Design and took a summer course at Oxford University in England.  Recently, she was awarded the prestigious Trustee Fellowship from the Union Institute and University and was working toward her Ph.D on the economic and political implications of women’s handwork.  Her research led to numerous speaking engagements.  Since 1994, Judith served as an adjunct professor for New York University teaching a course on creating independent television and video productions.  She also taught writing at Brookdale Community College and Edison Prep, a program for incarcerated “at-risk” teenage boys.   In 1996, Congressman Pallone appointed her to the White House Conference on Small Business. Believing that education need not be only in a classroom, Judith also knew it should be fun.  Among her journies: an archeological dig in Colorado; a weaving workshop on a Navajo Reservation; an African Safari; lecturing in Russia to teach women about developing leadership skills; a scientific cruise circumnavigating Iceland. As an avid student, she also strongly believed in giving back.  Her first book, “The Teen Model Book” published by Simon and Schuster, encouraged young hopefuls to master the business side of the fashion/modeling industry.  She self-published two additional books and her articles appeared in numerous national and international magazines and newspapers.  Topics were usually on creative ways to rise above difficult circumstances, like the woman who used knitting as a way to regain use of her fingers after nearly losing them in the Oklahoma City bombing.  Most recently, she was seeking publication on a book of poetry written by her “at-risk” students.  In the forward she wrote:  “Being privy to their original thoughts, in their own language, we can judge them not by our standards of life but start to understand theirs. Although creative writing is good for everyone, it especially resonates with these youths.  It is an effective means of developing self-awareness for these boys who may never have had the chance to do so.  I may have captured their interest, but it is they who have captured my heart.” As a staunch volunteer and community activist, Judith was honored by NYC Mayor Ed Koch for her work on the Adopt-a-Class project, an alliance for bringing business and community leaders into schools.  She assisted in curating an exhibit on historic handwork at Library Museum in Philadelphia; organized tours of Ellis Island and Harlem, and lectured on the plights of immigrant women.  Locally, she contributed substantially to the resurgence of Red Bank in the early 1990’s by discovering and restoring the film “Romance & Red Bank,” bringing the archival photos to life, designing and publishing a Walking Tour, and hosting poetry readings.  She also conceived, researched, and self-published the book “Reflections of Red Bank,” which includes poems on Red Bank by local residents among those by Walt Whitman and Philip Freneau.  In her spare time, Judith was a fiber artist (spinner, weaver, and master knitter).  Most recently, she spent her time offering knitting classes and organizing exhibits at libraries to keep the interest in these historic crafts alive.  She has always been grateful to the librarians who assisted her so graciously over the years and the public system that gave her the freedom of flight to rise, time and again, above challenging circumstances. She is survived by her three daughters, Callie Lasch, Beth Lasch, Monmouth County residents, and Amy Lasch of New York City.  "Our Mom taught us to continue to try to reach our greatest potential, to move forward not without fear, but in spite of it.  She said, 'Make it fun. You'll be happier when you get there.'  Then she'd be off on her next adventure." A private ceremony will be held to celebrate her life on May 23rd.  Those interested in attending can leave a message at 732-671-3191.  Condolences can be sent to the Lasch Family at P.O. Box 8833, Red Bank, NJ  07701.  To send flowers, please contact Guaranteed Plants in Middletown at 732-291-0620.  Donations can be made in her name to Middletown Public Library (for books and resources) in appreciation for her commitment to community, education, and opportunities for self-development.