Leonard M. Lazar, 84, of Manchester passed away on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016 at North Shore Medical Center in Salem.
Len's passions were his family, a company he co-founded that pioneered computer screens now used around the world, his keen mastery of his beloved magic and a good Philadelphia soft pretzel, don't hold the mustard.
As a boy growing up in Philadelphia, he was enraptured by Kanter's Magic Shop. He spent hours watching traveling magicians perform in the 1940s, and he was hooked. He was fond of saying that magic is a way to deceive people, but "without any dire or evil consequences." His "Run Rabbit Run" and "Linking Rings" tricks were a favorite at the countless shows he performed at his seven children's birthday parties over the years.
Len's first performances dating to the 1940s helped pay for his education. In Philadelphia, he earned two degrees at Temple University, a bachelor's in education and a master's in mathematics. He later earned a Ph.D. in engineering at the University of Connecticut.
He moved full-time to East Granby, Conn., in the early 1960s at age 30 and took a computer programming job at United Technologies. In 1973, he co-founded General Digital Corporation, now based in South Windsor, Conn. By 1977, General Digital created a groundbreaking touch-screen computer featuring properties that enabled it to be read under extreme glare in air-traffic control towers. It is now used around the world in airports. The technology crafted by Len's company is also installed in submarines, Navy vessels and Humvees.
When Len and his wife, Suzanne, moved to East Granby, Conn., with three young children, it was a quite a change from the bright lights and busy streets of Philadelphia, where Len worked as a bike messenger as a teenager. East Granby nearly had more cows than people, and the family settled on 10 acres of land. The couple ultimately raised seven children and lived in Connecticut until moving to Manchester-by-the-Sea in 2008 to be closer to several of their children in Massachusetts.
Living on Cape Ann, Len relished in discovering new restaurants from Salem to Gloucester and everywhere in between. Len's rating system was garlic-based; the more garlic, the more stars.
His passion for magic accompanied him to the North Shore, where he soon joined the Witch City Assembly 104 Chapter of the Society of American Magicians. He loved his magician colleagues and they shared their appreciation for him, voting him Magician of the Year in 2012. He was the current president of the Assembly.
At the graveside service for Len on Nov. 22, his colleagues performed a magician's highest sendoff, the "Broken Wand" ceremony.
Len is survived by his beloved wife of 55 years, Suzanne, and pre-deceased by Shirley (Greenberg) Lazar. He was the devoted and loving father of Jerry Lazar of Los Angeles, Calif., Beth Lazar of Bridgeport, Conn., Kay Lazar and husband Dave Hanson of Manchester-by-the-Sea, David Lazar and wife Bea of Bethesda, Md., Nina Burnett and husband Brad of Troy, Mich., Sara Lazar of Belmont, Mass., and Ridie Markenson and husband Zev of Brookline. Loving son of the late Isadore Lazar and Reba (Kravitz). Dear brother of Leah Lazar of Philadelphia, Pa., and brother of the late Robert Lazar of Washington, D.C. Cherished grandfather of Maia and Jonah Lazar, Michael Lazar, Kira and Marisa Burnett.
Services were private. Donations, in Leonard’s memory may be made to Society of American Magicians, Assembly 104, c/o Bill Jensen PO Box 2281, Rockport, MA 01966. Visit www.torffuneralservice.com for guestbook.