Martin Karnoff

KARNOFF--Martin. With profound grief the family announces his untimely death. Marty was the cherished husband of Elaine (Seaton) Wyden. Father of Robert, fatherin-law to Jennifer, and grandfather to his beloved Rachel. Predeceased by Arlene Karnoff. Stepfather of Phillip Karnoff and his family, wife Karen and daughters Catherine and Alexandra, and a step daughter Jodie. Also stepfather to James Seaton, Andrea Miller and her husband Jon, and loving grandfather to their respective children Philip Seaton, Catherine Miller Hardy, Julia Miller. Martin was born in New York on November 24th 1930, he served in Korea in the criminal investigation division. A graduate of City College, he also studied film at NYU were he worked with Marcel Duchamp on the Hans Richter film "8x8". A job at Manufacturers Hanover in their new computer department led to his becoming one of the pioneers of the computer leasing industry, when he joined LevinTownsend Computer Corporation in the early 1960s. By 1970 he was CEO of a greatly expanded company whose assets included a Las Vegas hotel and the Boston Celtics. In 1978 he formed Equion Computer from which he ultimately retired. A dedicated sailor he was also enamored of older BMW motor cycles and rode a R50 across Europe in his youth. A voracious reader with broad knowledge and interests, Martin was known for his phenomenal memory, his story telling and his astonishingly quick wit. A man of depth and integrity he will be forever missed.