Lester David Speyer

SPEYER, Lester D. (Les) Age 91 passed away April 26, 2012 in Nashville, TN. He was born and raised in Chicago, IL, but Nashville was his home for the last 34 years. During the 2nd world war, he served in the Army Air Corp. as a test pilot having flown every type of aircraft the allies fielded during the war. He also flew supplies from Burma, India to China (the Hump). He was justly proud of his military career having reached the rank of Major. Les maintained his love of flying and remained a pilot into his seventies. He was a successful entrepreneur starting Midwest Folding Products in Chicago from scratch and in 1962 founding Tennsco Corp in Dickson, TN. He built Tennsco to be the largest employer in the county. He was a world traveler having visited most every spot on the globe, many a trip with his wife Barbara on the back of a BMW motorcycle. Les loved snow skiing with his family and was zipping around Aspen in his yellow ski suit into his 80’s. As an avid tennis player, his wicked cross court forehand and pinpoint lobs confounded many an opponent. At age 70, he and Russell Buchi won the Cystic Fibrosis tennis tournament. He supported local tennis by funding the Sportsplex indoor courts and a tennis scholarship at Vanderbilt. His philanthropy left his fingerprints on many worthwhile causes in both Nashville and Dickson. Les was the son of the late Albert and Jennie Speyer. He was preceded in death by sister Beverly, son James and mother of children June Brune. He is survived by his wife, Barbara; sisters, Syril (Marv) Beskin and Gloria (Jim) Saag; daughters April Speyer (Pat Smith), Susan Berman (Ray Cahnman); sons Stuart (Shirley) Speyer, Robert (Lyudmila) Speyer and Scott (Laura) Berman; grandchildren, Max (Karen) Speyer, Sarah Gragert, Rachel (Scott) Bradley, Daniel Gragert, Adam Speyer, Jennie Speyer , Veronica Speyer, Spencer Lazar, Winston Lazar, Graham Lazar, Grace Berman , Adam Berman and Oliver Cahnman; great grandchildren, Kendall Speyer, Owen Bradley, Karson Speyer and Wyatt Bradley. Memorial donations may be made to the Community Foundation of Dickson County or Middle TN. A private graveside service will be held on Sunday. A separate memorial service will be announced at a later date.

MARSHALL-DONNELLY-COMBS FUNERAL HOME, 201 25TH AVE. NORTH, NASHVILLE, TN 37203. 615- 327-1111