Updated 4:11 p.m. ET on Aug. 18
Funeral services will be held Tuesday for Leonard Lauren, a former vice president of Ralph Lauren Corp., at 10 a.m. at the Riverside Memorial Chapel at 180 West 76th Street in New York. Lauren, who was the older brother of designer Ralph Lauren, died Saturday at the age of 93.
Leonard Lauren died peacefully in his sleep at his New Rochelle, N.Y., home.
Born March 4, 1932, in the Bronx, Lauren, who was known as Lenny, attended DeWitt Clinton High School. He was the second oldest of four children: Thelma, Lenny, Jerry and Ralph. After four years of college, Lauren was drafted into the U.S. Army and became a staffer on the “Stars and Stripes,” honing his photography skills and traveling throughout Europe. When he returned to the U.S., he began his career in packaging and display in the jewelry industry and started a packaging business with his father-in-law, with clients such as Bulova, Seiko, Tiffany and Cartier. He was very creative and would make multifaceted clear boxes that looked like jewelry.
He went to work for his brother Ralph’s company and had an office there where he worked in the early days of the brand, primarily in licensing. Born Lenny Lifshitz, he later changed his last name to Lauren, like his brothers.
Leonard Lauren, Ralph Lauren and Jerry Lauren.
Ben Gabbe/BFAnyc.com
Lauren served on numerous boards including the National Humane Society, Universal American and the Brae Burn Country Club. He was active with the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Columbia Presbyterian Hospital, among other causes.
Lauren, who was retired from Ralph Lauren, had an engaging and social personality and was a passionate golfer. He was seen several times this summer at his country club in Purchase, N.Y., and had lunch there last Thursday. He was still driving and still socializing. Lauren loved to travel and spent time in Palm Beach, Fla., Westchester, N.Y., and visited his brothers in the Hamptons.
Jean Shafiroff, the philanthropist, author and advocate, posted on Instagram Monday, “Lenny Lauren was a kind and caring man — and always a true gentleman. He was the beloved older brother [of] @ralphlauren. I had the highest respect for him. I send my condolences to his wonderful family. Palm Beach will not be the same without Lenny Lauren.”
Jeffrey Banks, who earlier worked at Ralph Lauren, said Monday, “I loved him. He was such a ‘haimesh” guy. He was full of life, always up and always positive. He always had a bunch of ideas for projects he wanted to do.”
Jeffrey Banks and Lenny Lauren at Ralph Lauren Corp.’s 50th anniversary show.
Courtesy shot.
Banks said Lauren worked on licensed products at Ralph Lauren and helped set up some of the early licensees. While Banks didn’t work with him specifically he said, “I knew him and saw him a lot. He had his own office at 650 Madison Avenue,” Banks said.
Lauren is survived by his children Beth Lauren and her husband Michael Lengel, and Susan Faust and her husband Phillip Faust, along with two grandchildren, Taylor and Brandon Faust. He is also survived by his two brothers, Ralph and Jerry. His older sister Thelma predeceased him. Lauren’s wife, Rene, also predeceased him in 2009.
