Herbert Allen Abramson

Herbert A. Abramson, 96, most recently of Natick and formerly of Newton, Needham and Delray Beach, Florida, passed away peacefully on September 18, 2026.

Born in Boston in 1930, Herb grew up in the Fenway area and showed the drive that would define his life from an early age, selling newspapers beginning at just 10 years old. He went on to earn his BS and BA degrees from Boston University.

Herb built a distinguished career in the automobile industry spanning more than five decades. He began at Porter Square Chevrolet in Cambridge parking cars, eventually rising to General Manager. In 1960, he founded Silver Lake Dodge in Newton, later moving the dealership to Wellesley, Massachusetts, where he operated it until his retirement in 1997.

His influence in the automobile industry extended far beyond his own dealership. Herb was honored with the TIME Magazine Dealer of the Year Award, served for 10 years as President of the New England Dodge Dealers Association and five years as President of the National Dodge Dealers Association. He was appointed by Chrysler Chairman Lee Iacocca to Chrysler’s President’s Executive Board and was inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame in Detroit in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the automotive industry. Well known throughout New England, Herb became the face of more than 1,000 television commercials and the voice of more than 1,500 radio commercials during his career.

Some of Herb’s most enduring accomplishments came through his lifelong commitment to philanthropy, medicine and community service.

Herb maintained a decades-long relationship with Boston University, serving for 35 years with its Alumni Association, including as President, and later as a member of the University’s Board of Trustees. His commitment to healthcare was equally extensive. He served as a Trustee of Boston Medical Center and on the boards of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and New England Baptist Hospital.

Following the death of his beloved wife, Harriet, from cancer, Herb helped spearhead the fundraising and development of the Harriet Abramson Cancer Treatment Floor at Boston Medical Center. His efforts included organizing and running a celebrity golf tournament to help fund the project. He later helped establish the Nellie Abramson Cancer Treatment Waiting Room, honoring his mother and continuing his commitment to improving cancer care for patients and their families.

Herb was also one of the founders of the National Kidney Foundation and served as its President. He persuaded legendary singer Nat King Cole to become its National Chairman, helping bring national attention to its mission. The Foundation helped fund the pioneering kidney transplant between identical twins at Boston’s Peter Bent Brigham Hospital, an important milestone in the history of organ transplantation.

He was also among the founders of the United Cerebral Palsy Foundation and the Forsight Foundation of Massachusetts, dedicated to assisting people with blindness.

Throughout his business and philanthropic life, Herb worked with presidents, political leaders, entertainers, athletes and celebrities, often calling upon those relationships to support the causes he championed. The famous names were never the point. What mattered to Herb was what those relationships could accomplish for people in need.

An avid golfer, Herb helped establish Spring Valley Country Club in Sharon, now The Cape Club of Sharon, where he served as President and remained a Life Member.

Above all, Herb was devoted to his family. He was predeceased by his parents, William and Nellie Abramson; his beloved wife, Harriet (Benson) Abramson; and his second wife, Joyce (Shumski) Abramson. He is survived by his beloved daughter, Diane Abramson Sotto and her husband, David Sotto, of Atlanta, Georgia, as well as a lifetime of dear friends.

Herb lived his 96 years with extraordinary energy, determination and generosity. From parking cars as a young man to becoming a nationally recognized automobile executive, he never lost the drive that defined him. He built businesses, led organizations, advanced important medical initiatives and, most importantly, used his success and his remarkable ability to bring people together to improve the lives of others.

A life well lived, and a legacy that will endure.

A graveside service will be held at Sharon Memorial Park, 40 Dedham Street, Sharon, on Wednesday, September 23, at 10:45 am. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to National Kidney Foundation at www.kidney.org, United Cerebral Palsy at ucpie.org, and or ForSight Foundation at forsightfoundation.org .