Harry K. Wasoff Jr.

Harry Wasoff died at a Dallas hospital, early Wednesday, September 19. Born in Dallas, on December 9, 1936, he was the son of Amelia Shipley Wasoff and Harry Kendall Wasoff. Harry is survived by his wife, Bertha Reed Wasoff and two daughters, Jane Kay Wasoff and Don Kennedy, of Dallas, and Cherie Lynn Wasoff, of Washington, DC. He is survived by three sisters: Amy Wasoff; Jean Riddle, widow of Dr. Hal G. Riddle, of Amarillo and Dallas; and Joanne Smith, of Dallas, widow of Edwin Jack Smith, Jr. Other surviving members of the immediate family: a niece, Amelia Smith, of Washington, DC; a nephew, Mark Garrett Smith, and wife Faith Spitz Smith, and three young family members of another generation, who make Harry certifiably a Great- Uncle: Dylan Amelia Smith, Avery Rose Smith, and Quentin J. Smith, all of Dallas. In addition, he is survived by Bertha's loving family in Arkansas, and a host of lifetime and new friends. Recitation of the Rosary will be held at Sparkman Hillcrest Funeral Home, 7405 W. Northwest Highway on Friday, September 21, at 6:30 pm. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Rita's Catholic Church, at 12521 Inwood Road, on Saturday, September 22, at 12:30 pm, followed by interment at Hillcrest Memorial Park. After graduation from Jesuit High School, Harry pursued studies at Notre Dame, where he earned a BBA, and graduated magna cum laude, in 1958, with a scholarship to study Law in night school, at SMU. Again, he graduated with cum laude honors, and an LL.B. Harry put both degrees to good use, with one career after another. He successfully took over his ailing father's women's sportswear manufacturing business and liked it. Eventually, the business was sold, and Harry went with it and stayed the agreed two years. He started his own manufacturing business, for pre-teens, then Misses' Sizes for ladies. At some point, in 1986, Harry decided to start his second career, in law. He went back to classes to become board certified in personal injury trial law by the Texas board of specialization. Certified and licensed, The law Offices of Harry K. Wasoff, Jr. specialized in cases involving severe personal injury or wrongful death resulting from auto and truck collisions, construction and industrial accidents, and more. He was admitted to the US Supreme Court and Texas Supreme Court, the US Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit, and the US District Court, N. District of Texas. Harry was a member and Director (1992-1997) of the Dallas Trial lawyers Association, and a member of the Dallas Bar Association. He was a Fellow of the College of the State Bar as well as on the Dallas Sub- Committee of Unauthorized Practice of law Committee, and the National Institute of Trial Advocacy. Tom Cowart, Harry's Associate says, {(Harry had a calm demeanor in any court room. It held, even when things didn't seem to be going his way." When asked what set Harry apart, Tom replied: "Four things: Common sense, which came from his business experience. He was unflappable. And dogged, he didn't give up. And he made friends easily because he treated everyone with respect." If you wish to make a donation in lieu of anything else, please direct it to The Jesuit Memorial Endowment Fund, 12345 Inwood Road, Dallas, Texas, 75244.