Age 57. Resided at the Gardner Hotel, 199 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston. Born (as Harry Osheroff) on 1/01/1885, Czaritsin, Russia. Died of burns (death certificate). Was pronounced dead upon his arrival at Mass General Hospital. New England franchise holder, Producers Releasing Corp. (film distributors), 12 Piedmont Street, Boston. In a party of 29 to honor western actor Charles "Buck" Jones, age 50, dead, on the main dining room raised rear terrace with his companion, Mrs. Mary Zeesman, age 34 (Born 9/08/1908. Died as Mary V. Sherlock on 11/07/1996, age 88. Last residence Dolan Springs, AZ), divorced, of Dorchester (Boston), MA, survived. Approached club tenor William "Billy" Payne, age 42, as the latter was sitting with Master of Ceremonies and survivor Milton "Mickey" Alpert, age 38, just before the start of the late show and offered a drink. Mr. Payne to Boston Police, 12/10/1942: "I said that it was too late and Alpert turned and left me...I finished my conversation with Asher and turned about when I heard glass crashing at the bar." May be the patron dubiously referred to by club waiter Adolph "Chico" Cecchini, age 45 (Born 7/15/1897. Died 7/27/1993, age 96. Last residence Saugus, MA), in Boston Police transcripts on 11/30/1942: "I noticed some party just come in and I had an order for it, kind of a cranky sort...Harry Husher [sic]." To the U.S. in 1890. Was divorced, ex-wife former Sarah Schwartz. Survived by a 29-year-old adult son Lester. Revealed in the 12/10/1942 Boston Herald that the above Mrs. Zeesman and her two minor children were included in his will. Variety magazine, 12/02/1942: "By a strange twist of fate, Harry Asher...when he owned the New England franchise on Paramount pictures, built the structure which 25 years later was to take the lives of hundreds of persons as well as his own." Was the third-oldest patron dead in the blaze (after Isaac Gordon, age 61, and Dominic Penardi, age 59) and fourth-oldest fire fatality overall (also club service cashier Miss Katherine "Kate" Swett, age 67). Above film distribution business located directly across from the club main entrance was later the scene of a $100,000 fire on 8/27/1954 which injured eight Hub firemen. Parents Mr. and Mrs. Louis and Diana (Levine) Asher (formerly Osheroff). Burial at Temple Mishkan Tefila Memorial Park, West Roxbury (Boston), MA.

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