Lauritsen lost cancer fight, but his spirit will live on

It was a beautiful day, full of sunshine and gentle breezes and hope. I remember Bruce Lauritsen standing before the big group of furniture and bedding executives and saying that he wanted to do his part to aid the cause.

On that day, in December of 2005, Lauritsen was more than a year into his battle with pancreatic cancer, an unusually deadly form of cancer that suffers from a lack of public awareness and a low level of research funding. He had read about the golf tournament that Roger Magowitz had started to raise money for pancreatic cancer research. And now he was one of the featured speakers at the event.

Lauritsen, a respected Flexsteel executive, put a face on the disease for many of those who heard him speak. A popular executive known for his caring nature, Lauritsen said he was taking an aggressive approach to fighting his cancer and was remaining positive. “I’m looking forward to celebrating Thanksgiving with my family,” he said.

As it turned out, Lauritsen achieved that goal. But that next Thanksgiving was his last with us; he recently lost his fight with pancreatic cancer. He was 64, and he will be missed by many.

Roger Magowtiz, president of Mattress Discounters of Virginia Beach, Va., remembers that Lauritsen had “a great big smile and a spirit to rally others. He was excited and hopeful, still working and fighting this disease head on. He appeared to have no fear, and he had the determination to beat it. He thought it was a great idea to rally an entire industry to fight this deadly beast.”

So now the fight must go on. Inspired by the example that Bruce Lauritsen set, we must redouble our efforts.

Magowtiz, who lost his mother to pancreatic cancer, remains committed to the cause he champions. “These great friends and family members have left it up to us to be their spirit and to lead the charge and, yes, to make the world a better place for our families,” he said. “One day maybe we can proudly say we have found a cure for this disease.”

The next Seena Magowitz Golf Classic will be held Saturday, Dec. 1 in Phoenix. Bruce Lauritsen’s spirit of determination will live on in those who gather again to fight pancreatic cancer.