Obituary Former Mayor Leonard Haber Former Miami Beach mayor, psychologist Dr. Leonard Haber dies at 82 I Miami Herald ... Page 1 of 4
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Former Miami Beach mayor, psychologist
Dr. Leonard Haber dies at 82
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GREETING SUPERSTARS:Former Miami Beach Mayor Leonard Haber greets boxing -
legend Muhammad All on Miami Beach in the 1970s.I Courtesy Leonard Haber
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By Howard Cohen-hcohen @MiamiHerald.com FLORIDA
Dr.Leonard Haber,the Mayor of Miami Beach who once envisioned a
Venice-like Waterway District along Collins Avenue and who hosted a
popular radio program dispensing psychological advice to callers,died More Local Obituaries
Friday morning in the city he helped lead for more than a decade. (http://www.miamiherald.com/news/1
Haber was 82.
Former Miami Beach mayor,
He was my hero,but he was psychologist Dr.Leonard Haber dies at
also a hero to many as he 82
served a lifetime for the
community,"his son Joseph (http://www.miamiherald.com/news/loc
Haber said Friday morning.
Hospitality public relations executive
The Bronx-born Haber first Rebecca Kollaras dies at 45
joined the Miami Beach (http://www.miamiherald.com/news/loc
commission in 1971 when he
was elected to a four-year
term as a councilman.By
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/obituaries/article20021079.html 5/1/2015
Former Miami Beach mayor, psychologist Dr. Leonard Haber dies at 82 I Miami Herald ... Page 2 of 4
1977,Haber was the city's ,•t,,k Sid Tepper,who wrote more than 50
mayor during a period of ,c- songs for Elvis Presley,dies at 96
growing pains.He served for _ •, -: -: (http://www.miamiherald.com/news/loc
two years and was later re-
elected as a commissioner for ' Palm Beach Post photo editor,
two more years in 1981. _ ., - ;1 multimedia director,Mark Edelson dies
One of his boldest endeavors at 64
was to try and create a (http://www.miamiherald.com/news/loc
Waterway District along .,r..
Collins Avenue from 23rd to
Teacher,LGBT activist Edda Cimino
63rd Streets complete with dies at 85
sidewalk cafes,gondola rides (http://www.miamiherald.com/news/loc
and decorative paths for
MIAMI BEACH OFFICIAL Leonard
romantic moonlit strolls. Haber was an elected official in Miami
Beach between 1971 and 1983,
Struggling with crime,a including two years as mayor from 1977 ,
faltering tourist trade and an
to 1979. Florida's Business
aging population in the pre- Community Backs FHIX
Miami Vice years and post-Rat Pack heyday that had filled hotels in the Health insurance for
195Os and'60s along Collins,Haber wanted action. 800,000 Floridians
"This plan could make Miami Beach more cosmopolitan and urbane,"
he told the Miami News in 1982."It could be another French Riviera or /"EALTMh
Dizengoff Street in Tel Aviv."
1 woiK�1 #FHIXforFL
Haber also proposed establishing an official topless beach,"just like
the French Riviera"on Miami Beach.That didn't happen officially but
he was merely ahead of his time.Spotting topless bathers on South Editor's Choice Videos
Beach is much easier than spotting a parking spot.
That didn't happen,either.But it didn't matter.The beach area in front Cri
of 20th Street already swarmed with topless bathers,and it does to
this day.
Ultimately,the Beach began its revival later that decade as it re-
imagined itself in the image Miami Vice created on television.
Haber,a licensed psychologist,would enjoy a popular run as a host
dispensing advice on the WKAT radio show,At Your Service,and he
was a radio and TV news commentator sought for his opinions on
high-profile criminal cases,including serving as a regular guest for
NBC during the O.J.Simpson trial in the 199Os.
More videos:
Haber also served as the city psychologist for the Miami Beach Police ',.A oak
Department.
Current Beach Mayor Philip Levine extended condolences to the Haber
family in a statement."We are deeply saddened by the passing of Dr.
Leonard Haber,"he said.
Haber is survived by his wife Marta,his three sons Michael,Daniel and
Joseph Haber,five grandchildren and his sister Sandra.
Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m.Sunday at Temple Beth
Sholom,4144 Chase Ave.,Miami Beach,and services will follow at 1
p.m.at Lakeside Memorial Park,10301 NW 25th St.,Miami.
This story will be updated.
Follow @HowardCohen(http://twitter.com/HowardCohen)on Twitter.
MORE LOCAL OBITUARIES 0
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