Leonard Lauren, a Former Vice President of Ralph Lauren and Ralph Lauren’s Older Brother, Dies
An engaging and social personality, Lenny Lauren was 93 years old.
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 Aug. 16 at the age of 93.
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, Lenny 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 eventually went to work for his brother Ralph Lauren’s company and had an office there where he worked in the early days of the brand. Born Lenny Lifshitz, he later changed his last name to Lauren, like his brothers.
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 retired from Ralph Lauren, had an engaging and social personality and was a passionate golfer. His friends recalled that they saw him last week at his country club and he was in great spirits. He loved to travel and spent time in Palm Beach, Westchester, N.Y. and visiting 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 @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-a’ guy. He was full of life, always up and always positive. He always had a bunch ideas for projects he wanted to do.”
Banks said that 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,” said Banks.
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 Lauren and Jerry Lauren. His older sister Thelma predeceased him.