ST. PETERSBURG - Mary Lina Lassing Belcher, a member of a prominent family that gave Lassing Park to the city, has died at 77.
Mrs. Belcher, a longtime resident and the widow of civic leader William Stansel Belcher, died Tuesday (Feb. 3, 2004) at Edward White Hospital.
Her grandfather, Kentucky Judge John M. Lassing, donated much of the land for the park in 1926. In its glory days, the park, on the waterfront at 20th Avenue and Beach Drive SE, was adopted by the Azalea Circle of the St. Petersburg Garden Club.
Mrs. Belcher's grandmother, Mary "Mae" Lassing, was known as "the first lady of golf" of her era, and her sons started the "Mother Lassing Golf Tournament."
A St. Petersburg native, Mrs. Belcher graduated from St. Petersburg High School and Florida State College for Women.
She worked as a lab technician and was primarily a homemaker. She was a founding member of St. Thomas Episcopal Church and a member of the Altar Guild. She also belonged to Junior League, the Christmas Belles and St. Petersburg Yacht Club.
Her husband of 46 years, a lawyer and first president of All Children's Hospital, died in 1992. Survivors include her mother, Ruth Hensley Lassing, St. Petersburg; a son, Brady Thomas Belcher, Homosassa; and a grandson, Joshua John Belcher, Gainesville.
Friends may call from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday at Anderson-McQueen Funeral Homes & Cremation Tribute Center-Ninth Street Chapel, 2201 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St. A funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 1200 Snell Isle Blvd. NE, with burial at Royal Palm Cemetery South.
The family suggests memorial contributions to All Children's Hospital Foundation, P.O. Box 3142, St. Petersburg, FL 33731-3142.
- Information from Times files was used in this obituary.
