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Winner of USA Book News "Best in 2004"
award in the True Crime category.
When Manny Lazar was murdered by a gang
member in 1970, he died in the place he loved best: the Wee
Folks toy store that he and his wife, Belle, had run for 25
years in the South Shore neighborhood of Chicago. The
Pied Piper of South Shore, Toys and Tragedy in Chicago
is the true crime story of the tragic death of this beloved
retailer, told in gritty detail by his elder daughter.
It is the story of Manny and Belle, two
children of immigrants, their American dream, and their richly
diverse neighborhood-each falling prey to the brutality of
gangs. Enhanced by her own recollections of working in her
parents' store and the fond reminiscences of hundreds of customers,
Caryn Lazar Amster's true tale is a heady ride from persecution
in Russia to freedom in America, from Hula Hoops to gang members,
from murder to trial. It is the story of loss but also of
survival, even forgiveness. The story interweaves outside
forces like racism, guns, drugs, gangs and the Nation of Islam
that impacted this little store, the couple, and the neighborhood.
It includes over 100 quotes from former customers who remember
those years fondly.
Caryn Lazar Amster, a
Chicago marketing specialist, grew up working side by side
with her parents in their Wee Folks toy store. The Pied
Piper of South Shore, Toys and Tragedy in Chicago is
her first book.
She is the elder daughter of a successful
retailer with 15 years experience in her family's business,
Wee Folks. For the past 16 years she has been owner and CEO
of a marketing planning, and consulting firm.
She has over 25 years experience in management,
marketing, public relations, advertising and fund raising.
She has 15 years of real estate experience in commercial property
management, marketing, public relations and advertising. Her
shopping center experience includes Manager, Marketing Director,
Corporate Marketing/Public Relations Director for strip and
enclosed shopping centers and mixed-use developments throughout
Illinois. She earned the Certified Marketing Director (CMD)
designation from the International Council of Shopping Centers.
Her fund raising experience includes Vice
President & Fund Raising Chairman for a national woman's
organization, Chicago Region National Foundation March of
Dimes volunteer chairman, Director of Development and Public
Relations for a rehabilitation center where she wrote corporate
and foundation grants.
She has also served as an Account Executive
for a business-to-business marketing agency, and a syndicated
newspaper columnist/feature writer. Caryn is a professional
speaker, trainer and author of nationally published articles.
She has been Marketing Specialist for a major Chicago hospital
with full marketing and public relations responsibility for
the hospital's first satellite facility. She has also conducted
medical research in pediatric and renal physiology research
at three Chicago area hospitals.
Caryn is a 1996 Graduate of the Northwest
Leadership Academy. She is a past board member and Executive
Board Vice-Chairman for Greater Woodfield Convention and Visitor's
Bureau where she earned the Red Lantern Award in two consecutive
years for her outstanding contributions to area tourism.
She is President of CMA Marketing Group,
Inc., and its divisions, CMA Publishing and Custom Marketing
Associates. Caryn lectures and trains on many aspects of marketing
for businesses and organizations.
As one of her company's major accomplishments,
Caryn assisted in the conception, marketing and production
with the Walt Disney Company of the grand opening of One Schaumburg
Place, a 100,000 square foot regional shopping center, attended
by over 100,000 people.
Caryn Lazar Amster is a charter member
and board member of the Hoffman Estates Chamber of Commerce
and a charter member of the Schaumburg Business Association.
She has served on the Business Advisory Board for the Schaumburg
Township District Library.
The Business Ledger Newspaper awarded
her the Excellence in Business Award in the Small Business
Category. Talking To The Boss Newspaper honored her with the
Top 100 Small Businesses Award.
She attended Southeast Junior College
and Northwestern University.
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