JULIUS A. EPSTEIN

EPSTEIN-- Julius A. "LEE" Husband, father, grandfather, respected entrepreneur, and hot dog connoisseur Lee Epstein passed away peacefully on Wednesday, January 23, 2013 at his home in Manhattan. Born April 26, 1923 to Isidor and Ida (Lelchuk) Epstein, Lee learned early lessons in business and customer service as the delivery boy for his parents' fruit and vegetable store in the Bronx. Lee got his start in direct mail by working for O. E. McIntyre while attending City College night school, where he met Rose Lansman, whom he married in 1946. Eventually he started his own company, Mailmen, Inc, which grew to be one of the industry's leading volume letter shops. After selling Mailmen to loyal employees in 1992, he went on to co-found the nonprofit Direct Marketing Days in New York (DMDNY). This led to the creation of the Direct Marketing Day Foundation (DMDF) for the purpose of educating marketing professors at regional colleges and universities about direct marketing, and to fund scholarships for students of this curriculum. His foundation later merged with the Direct Marketing Association, creating the "Lee Epstein Fund" to continue his educational vision. Over his 50 year career, Lee received countless industry awards for his dedication, wisdom, vision, and generous spirit. He was a sought-after speaker at direct marketing conferences, and served on the boards of many direct marketing associations as well as the Postmaster General's Committee, frequently testifying at Congressional hearings. Lee loved to sing, and he and Rose were avid theater-goers. They were also founding members of the Mid-Westchester YM-YWHA, where Lee played the "Pirate King," the "Captain of the Pinafore," and the "Mikado" as part of their Gilbert and Sullivan troupe. Lee was predeceased by Rose, his wife of 65 years, and is survived by his daughter Ellen and her partner Ian Brownell, his son Larry and daughter-in-law Karen, and grandchildren Izzy Maxwell, Michael Epstein and Katie Epstein. Funeral services will be held on Friday, January 25 at 10:45am, at Sutton Place Synagogue on East 51 St, NYC. If you'd like to make a donation, the family has established The Lee and Rose Lansman Epstein Scholarship at The City College Fund, 160 Convent Avenue, Shepard Hall, Room 166, New York, NY 10031; citycollegefund.org/donate