Ran Baron

Apr 30, 2003 - Ran Baron, 24, of Tel Aviv, was one of three persons murdered by a suicide bomber who detonated himself at the entrance of Mike's Place, a pub on the Tel Aviv seafront promenade.

In the first such terrorist attack by foreign nationals, two British Muslims took part in what was to have been a double suicide bombing at the crowded Tel Aviv pub at about 1 a.m. One of the bombers blew himself up after being blocked by a security guard and the second would-be bomber fled when his explosives failed to detonate. Dominique Caroline Hess and Yanai Weiss were also slain by the bomber, who wounded 60 others.

Ran Baron completed his military service in December and devoted his time since then to developing a career as a stand-up comedian and musician. Trained as a pianist at the Tel Aviv Conservatory, he concentrated on jazz and went to Mike's Place to play at the Tuesday night jam session. He was hoping to study communications and business administration at Tel Aviv University.

"He mainly played the piano," said his younger brother, Ido, "but he could get the sound he wanted from any instrument he'd pick up. He was unquestionably a performer... but he hadn't begun to enjoy civilian life. He was planning to go abroad and study business administration or communications or psychology."

Ido said he didn't know whether his brother had had a chance to play before he was slain. "I hope he had a good time there... He had an excellent sense of humor; he'd find something funny in every situation and this summed up his view of life. The good bits from life he'd put into his performances."

Ran Baron was buried at the Kiryat Shaul Cemetery in Tel Aviv. He is survived by his parents, Gabi and Anat, and brother Ido, 20.