Harriet Posnak Lesser, My Beloved Mother, Has Passed Away

It is with deep sadness that I announce the passing of my mother, Harriet Posnak Lesser. She died on May 17, 2025 at the age of 93. Words cannot even begin to express the depth of this loss. My mother was my best friend. I confided in her, I shared the most important and the equally unimportant times of my life with her. I called my mother every day, often multiple times. To date, it’s been almost two weeks since I heard my mother’s voice and even longer since we’ve had a conversation. The gaping hole in my heart is painful and raw. I cannot believe I won’t ever speak with my mother again, let alone see her. My mom’s unconditional support, encouragement, advice, and love were things on which I could always count. I miss her beyond words. She set a great example for me and everyone in my family. I only hope that I can be as wonderful a mother, grandmother, and great grandmother as she was.

Below is her formal obituary. Thank you for reading about this amazing woman. For those of you who have not had the pleasure of reading some of her columns, she used to write for EverBeautiful.com and some of her columns can be found on the pages of this website. Click on her name in the subheading at the top of this page. You are guaranteed to laugh – and that would have made my mom very happy indeed.

Harriet Posnak Lesser, of Massapequa and the Five Towns, beloved mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, has passed away at age 93. 

Ms  Lesser, an award winning journalist, editor, and social and political columnist for the Five Towns newspapers, The South Shore Record and The Nassau Herald, was known for her sharp wit and the way in which she brought humor to the most mundane situations of suburban life. Her weekly column, “A Nice Place to Visit,” was widely read, not only by residents of the Five Towns, but by readers across the country.  Her column, at times, was picked up and published in Newsday, the New York Times and by the Associated Press. Ms Lesser also contributed to several books, including, Gem Chronicles: The Early Years, which was co-written by gemologist John Ramsey and his wife, jewelry designer Laura Ramsey. Ms. Lesser was also a recipient of the New York Press Association Award.  Between editing and writing for local newspapers, Ms Lesser contributed to Playthings Magazine, a trade publication for the toy industry. 

Harriet Lesser was the second in her family to graduate college and to pursue a career at a time when most women were homemakers. She always wanted to be a writer and was an active staff member of her Tilden High School and Brooklyn College student newspapers. 

Ms Lesser began her journalistic career in the early 1970s. Prior to that, while raising her three children, she was an active political volunteer involved in championing local politicians. Not one to seek office herself, she covered the local and national political scene journalistically and satirically in her weekly column. 

Harriet Lesser’s beauty, sense of humor, intelligence, and personality equipped her to tackle and succeed in a myriad of endeavors. Yet, in spite of her busy professional life, Ms Lesser’s proudest achievement was as mother of her three children, whom she loved with all her heart.   

Ms Lesser was born on the Fourth of July and was the embodiment of a proud American, instilling in her children the importance of a democratic government and a free press. 

Harriet Posnak Lesser was preceded in death by her husband, Meyer C. Lesser, and is survived by her children, Melody Lesser, Michael Lesser, and Jonathan Lesser and their respective spouses, Charles Riess, Debra Burleson, and Dawn Lesser. She also leaves behind her grandchildren, respectively Emily Riess and her husband Adam Fudala; Victoria Riess and her husband Dr. Nathan Zapolsky; Kate Burleson-Lesser, Miles Burleson-Lesser, Aggie Lesser and Annabelle Lesser. She is also survived by her great grandchildren Violet Zapolsky, Eli Zapolsky, Gabrielle Fudala and Clara Fudala. 

In memoriam donations may be made to a dementia research charity, a charity that supports journalism, or any charity of your choice.