Harvey C. Kasoff, an executive in the wholesale alcoholic beverage industry and an enthusiastic professional basketball fan, died of pneumonia Dec. 20 at Gilchrist Center Towson. The Pikesville resident was 89.

Born in Baltimore and raised in Ashburton, he was the son of Morris Kasoff, a founder and owner of the Key Wine and Liquor Company, and Vivian Kasoff, a homemaker. He was a graduate of Baltimore City College, where he played on the varsity basketball team, and was a member of the Upsilon Lambda Phi Fraternity.

He competed against Al Kaline, then a Southern High School basketball player, in a 1953 MSA championship game. Mr. Kaline was later named to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Mr. Kasoff played varsity basketball at Washington College and the University of Baltimore, where he also attended law school.

In 1958 Mr. Kasoff met his future wife Helaine Goldman at Meadowbrook Swim Club in Mount Washington. They married a year later at the old Pimlico Hotel restaurant.

After serving in the Air Force at the Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, he began selling liquor to restaurants, package goods stores and taverns. He later became a co-owner with his brother, Herbert “Herb” Kasoff, of Quality Brands, Inc. in Glen Burnie and International Distributors in Washington, D.C.

He was also chair of the national Schenley Wholesalers Foundation.

As a youth Mr. Kasoff attended Camp Cody in New Hampshire, where he became lifelong friends with bunkmate Ed Snider, future owner of the Philadelphia Flyers and 76ers. In 1999 Mr. Snider introduced Mr. Kasoff to then-Philadelphia Eagles head coach Andy Reid, who became a friend and is now head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs.

Mr. Kasoff had many sports affiliations.

He was a ballboy for the old Baltimore Bullets, a 1947-48 NBA championship team. Mr. Kasoff befriended player-coach Harry Edward “Buddy” Jeannette and players Walt Budko, Paul Hoffman and Kenny Sailors.

Mr. Kasoff campaigned to have Mr. Jeanette inducted into the 1994 NBA Hall of Fame.

Mr. Kasoff played on a semi-pro basketball team with NBA Hall of Famer and Baltimore native Gene Shue.

NBA Commissioner David Stern designated Mr. Kasoff’s 70th birthday as “Harvey Kasoff Day.”

After meeting Duke University head coach Mike Krzyzewski on a visit to Baltimore, Mr. Kasoff became a friend.

Mr. Kasoff was also a professional football fan and was active in the Maryland Sports Boosters.

Mr. Kasoff was a board member of Ascension St. Agnes Hospital. He was also chair of a Baltimore March of Dimes campaign and past president of the Baltimore Bullets Booster Club.

He was a prolific personal letter and note writer and rarely missed birthdays and anniversaries.

He was a member of Beth El Congregation.

Mr. Kasoff is survived by his wife of 65 years, Helaine Goldman Kasoff, a former real estate agent; a daughter, Pamela Bloom, of Bonita Springs, Florida; two sons, Edward Kasoff of Clarksville and Mitchell Kasoff of Baltimore; five grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.

Services were held Dec. 22 at Sol Levinson and Bros.

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