FRED LEIGHTON Obituary

LEIGHTON--Fred.

Born Murray Mondschein, the adored father and grandfather, beloved husband to his late wife Glorya, treasured friend and passionate jeweler, died peacefully on Wednesday, July 26, 2017, at the age of 85. Fred began his retail journey in the 1960's in Greenwich Village, selling Mexican wedding dresses, ethnic clothing and accessories, and silver jewelry. He soon expanded into Victorian era jewels, which opened the door to what would become his professional passion, gems and fine jewelry. Setting out to learn all he could, Fred's voracious appetite for knowledge and his natural eye for beauty served him well. While his gregariousness and warmth not only helped pave the way in an industry generally closed to outsiders, but made all who entered his store feel welcome and at ease. Always a visionary, in the early 1970's Fred moved his store to Madison Avenue, long before it was popular, ultimately spearheading the influx of luxury boutiques to the now iconic avenue. It was there that his entrepreneurial talents truly flourished. By the mid 1990's looking to expand and never one to do the expected, Fred opened a second store at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas, bringing his unique taste and eclectic style to a whole new following. Being self-taught in a generational industry had its challenges, but it also gave him the freedom to find beauty and value where others did not. One of the first to appreciate period jewelry as collectible, desirable art objects, Fred filled his stores with an exceptional, diverse and unparalleled inventory, which ultimately found its way into private and museum collections, onto the pages of magazines and glamorously walking the red carpet. His enthusiasm and joy for his industry never waned. His relaxed, open, sometimes irreverent, down to earth personality drew people in. And his love of life and for those precious to him was profound and embracing. Murray will be deeply missed by all those whose lives he touched with his love, humor, joie de vivre, generosity and his unfailing willingness to share his knowledge, expertise and passion. He is survived by his daughter Mara, his grandchildren Zachary and Sasha, and his sister Gloria. A Memorial Service will be held Tuesday, August 8th, 10:00am at Temple Emanu-El, Fifth Avenue at 65th Street.

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Published by New York Times on Aug. 3, 2017.

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Candice Wolfson

July 29, 2017

Dear Murray, loved ones, friends and clients,
For Murray his friends and clients fit into the category of his loved ones.
When his sun shone upon you, you felt like the most important person in the world. Describing Murray, I often say two things...1. He was a true genius. 2. I hold up one hand, showing my palm with five fingers and say Murray was in the top five of the all time best jewelers in the world. Like Beethoven, who went deaf at 12, continued to compose masterpieces because his mind just played. Murray would have a jewel and his mind just would just play a symphony of its own creating a precious stone into masterpiece jewel.
Murray had at it all...his pieces had the beauty, perfection and skill of another of the top 5 best jewelers in the world plus he had charm, charisma, true tall tales, laughter, brilliance.
Murray didn't sell jewelry. His beloved clients purchased jewelry. He was the anti-salesman. His creation, love for his pieces and love for his clients was effusive. His pieces sold themselves.
I came to have Murray's sun shine upon me for two glorious years, often 7 days a week. I was sent over from Sotheby's jewelry department to interview to be his assistant. After about 20 minutes, he said "can you start tomorrow?"
On my first day with Murray, I walk in and he's wearing earrings, a bracelet and some other pieces. I thought what is going on?
Murray's utter Genius was what was going on. Murray taught me in that moment one of hundreds some of most important lessons that I learned from him.
Murray told me you have to try the pieces on...fine jewelry doesn't catch on your clothes, clip on earrings should sit right and not hurt...functionality is as important as beauty.
Wow. Genius.
I continue Murray's lesson to this day, with gratitude.
Murray, if you can hear this in heaven, I'll tell you something I may never had shared. I don't recall. When you told me you'd like me to go to Monte Carlo for six weeks you asked if I spoke French and I answered I did speak some French as I had studied it in school.
Because your lessons in nothing less than perfection is an option, that day after work, I got in a taxi and went to Berlitz and brushed up on my French and took classes til Monte Carlo.
I loved your family, wife, daughter, staff and your client family.
One day, you told me to wear tights or panty hose to work. The next day you gave me two huge Kashmir Sapphires and said..here, put these in your pantyhose and go to Tanagro, Murray's workshop. That became the norm. I never took the subway in the 8 years in New York as I most often had jewels on my body.
Just as Murray lived above the his namesake store, Fred Leighton, I moved directly across the street and worked, because I wanted to with him, the 6 days a week the shop was open, and seeing clients at nights and day 7 on call. I listened and listened and listened to Murray and learned. There were so many life lessons he taught...and new experiences...on jewelry deliveries to clients...one such story was delivering to a full floor penthouse on 5th ave nearby, walking down the hallway, with the jewels in my tights, I couldn't imagine such a refined client could like in a place with a messy hallway and sweaty elevator operator...I ended up in a grand kitchen cabinet in the residence. I didn't know I had been in the service elevator...I had never been in one. Murray had a laugh.
Murray used to wear a lapel pin with an owl on it. I always saw it as his subtle recognition of his genius.
Murray not only enabled me to earn my livelihood, he gave me pride, life lessons, fatherly kindness, laugher and some of the most fascinating experiences of my life. Pride. Integrity. Honesty. Beauty. Laughter. Stability. Honor. Doing what is best for others. Fun. Teaching. Genius.
One day, after a few years, of going daily to the workshops, client deliveries and fittings, auctions, world travels, working with clients with Murray...Murray said to me...kid, you'll always have a job here, but more behind the counter because my daughte is graduating from Brown and she'll be doing the things you are. I agreed with him it was rightly her place next to him and her legacy. My own dad, since I was little, always told me to have an easy life, always tell the truth so you never have to remember who you told what to and to work yourself after your training. So, when it came time Murray's beloved daughter to take her legacy, I thanked Murray for more than I could ever begin to thank him for, and began my own business. At the time and still today I have a book in me that will never be told of all the fascinating true tall tales with Murray's clients but, like Murray, I would never ever violate a scintilla of their privacy, nor my own clients privacy in these years since.
Because of Murray, suppliers trusted me, because Murray did.
Because of Murray, I was given trade terms to purchase goods on loan or have 30 day terms to sell the goods and pay.
Because of Murray, one of my proudest moments, was newly on my own in business, I purchased an Art Deco diamond and platinum bracelet for a client, on 47th Street.
Because of Murray, I wrote on the invoice that the sale was predicated on it being genuine Art Deco circa 1920-35.
Because of Murray's lessons, I went to due diligence with two Art Deco experts and learned it was newly made. I returned the bracelet to the vendor within a few hours, laid the bracelet on his counter in the jewelry exchange, showed him the documents that the piece was a reproduction, and thanked him for the opportunity. This man said to me...you know, I suggest you pick up the bracelet because if you don't it will get stolen and you'll be out a bracelet and $20,000 the invoice amount. As I turned to leave and exited out onto 47th street, this man, twice my age and twice my size, said to me...you know...I know you're just starting out in business and I wouldn't want to have to ruin your career." I said "I wish you the best of luck. Go for it."
Murray had my my back. I lived honestly.
Murray lived honestly. Murray was gentle yet very powerful and an actual genius. Thank you Murray. God bless you. Respectfully yours, and with love to your family, extended family of clients and dealers, as to know you is to love you, Candice Wolfson