Lauraine Lichtman

Twenty-seven years ago Lauraine Lichtman and her husband, Howard opened a tow company with one tow truck and a dream. Despite having had difficult histories including drug abuse and stints in prison, husband and wife were determined to turn their lives around and succeed. Their company, Midtown Towing, became one of the largest and most respected companies in South Florida. They eventually were contracted by numerous police agencies including the Cities of Miami, El Portal, North Bay Village, North Miami, North Miami Beach, Aventura and the Federal Bureau of Investigations. Following Howard's premature death in 1997, Lauraine persevered and within ten years the company grew to a fleet of 19 trucks and three locations. She secured contracts for additional police departments including the Cities of Hialeah, Hialeah Gardens, Medley and Miami Gardens.

Lichtman, 64, passed away on Tuesday, surrounded by family and friends, following a battle with pancreatic cancer. Lauraine was quick to appreciate her success and paid back the community by contributing to a long list of charities including the Miami Rescue Mission and Children's Home Society of Florida, amongst others. She sponsored Little League teams and is one of the founders of Mt. Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach.

At the same time, she became very involved in local politics and became well known in Miami-Dade County. She got to meet an amazing list of celebrities and political luminaries. She rubbed elbows with Martin Sheen, First Lady Hillary Clinton, Gov. Lawton Chiles, Congressman Bill Nelson and former Vice-President Al Gore. She became friends with former state legislator Rep. Elaine Gordon, former North Miami Police Chief, Kenneth Each; former Mayor of North Bay Village, Ignacio Diaz; Miami- Dade County Mayor Alex Penelas; Commissioner Sally Heyman and former attorney general, Janet Reno.

Lobbyist Robert Levy recalls, "She was most proud of her relationship with Janet Reno - she just couldn't fathom that someone as powerful and important as Janet Reno not only knew her name but knew her story - I explained that it was because of her story that a woman like Janet Reno even cared about her - that Janet Reno looked at her as an example that yelled loudly that the system works - that people can change their lives."

Lobbyist Ron Book remembers her as "A person who overcame all obstacles to become a leader in the community - which is what she became. Compassionate, loving and caring is how to describe her."

Bonnie Michaels, Chief of Staff for Commissioner Sally Heyman stated, "Laurie was a special person and a cherished friend. She will be missed, but I know she is now happily reunited with her beloved Howie. They will both live in my heart forever."

Lichtman was born in Teaneck, New Jersey in 1949. She relocated to South Florida in 1970 and has been a resident of North Miami since 1991. She is survived by her brother Edward P. Waters, Sr. of Pembroke Pines and two nephews, Robert Waters and Edward Waters, Jr. both of North Miami.

Services will take place at Fred Hunter Funeral Home located at 6301 Taft Street, Hollywood, FL. Visitation is scheduled from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM on Monday, January 27th and services will take place at 1:30 PM on January 28th.