Leonard Philip Carlson

Carlson, Leonard Philip
March 31, 1919 - August 6, 2010
Beloved husband, father, father-in-law, brother, and uncle, Leonard Carlson passed away in Los Angeles on August 6th, 2010. He was 91 years old.
Len was born on March 31, 1919 in Bridgeport, Connecticut to parents Rose and Philip Carlson. He graduated from Syracuse University in 1940, and served with meritorious distinction as a Captain in the U.S. Army in the Southwest Pacific during World War II. After working for Fawcett Publications and Topps Chewing Gum before and after World War II, Len started the very successful mail-order company "Sunset House" in 1951, selling household and novelty items. He served as its President and CEO until 1970. As this was one of the first such enterprises in American business, he was considered to be an entrepreneurial trailblazer in the catalog mail-order industry. He was an active Board member of the Direct Mail Marketing Association. After leaving Sunset House, Len continued to develop new products and to direct new marketing ventures.
Besides business and marketing, Len's passions were his family and traveling all around the globe with his loving wife of 59 years, Gloria. Len will be remembered by all for his never-ending humor and wit, his keen intellect, his amazing creativity, and his perpetual optimism and love of life. Our dear "Boo" will be greatly missed, and will be in our hearts forever more.
Len is survived by his wife, Gloria Carlson, daughter Renee Blom, son Jim Carlson, daughter-in-law Corinne Carlson, son-in-law Don Blom, grandchildren John Symons, Evan Blom, Jesse Carlson, and Alexandra Carlson, sister Betty Jackel and her family, as well as adoring nieces, nephews, cousins, and close friends.
Donations may be made to the Foundation of the Junior Blind or The Salvation Army.