Strasser was born on May 5, 1950 in New York City, and grew up in Long Island. His father, Chester S. Strasser was a dress manufacturer and his mother, Sheila Reisner Strasser, was an artist and copy editor.

"Looking back, I had a fine childhood in a very nice suburban setting. Like any kid I had my insecurities, but I also had a stable family life, attended good public schools and went to summer camp."

As a boy, Strasser was an avid collector of insects, amphibians and reptiles, much to his mother's chagrin, since they tended to escape in the house. A number were never found. His parents frequently took him and his brother on skiing and fishing trips. Tennis also was, and is, an important family sport.

"Scholastically I was an underachiever and had a particularly tough time with reading and spelling. In general I did minimal amounts of...