Leonard Lauren, the older brother of fashion icon Ralph Lauren, has died at the age of 93. Known fondly as Lenny, he passed away on Saturday at his Palm Beach condo, sources told TMZ.
GettyA memo shared with residents in his building described him as a “beloved fixture in the community whose presence touched nearly everyone.”
Born in the Bronx in 1932, Leonard Lauren first pursued photography, serving in the U.S. Army and capturing life across Europe for Stars and Stripes.
After returning home, he built a thriving packaging & display business, working with luxury brands like Tiffany & Co. and Cartier. His firm helped create the now-iconic Tiffany blue box, a symbol of timeless elegance.
Remembered as “Dapper & Elegant”
Friends & neighbors remembered Lenny as “dapper, elegant, and impeccably attired.”
He was praised as a man with “a kind word for all, a prodigious memory, and a gift for storytelling.”
Those who knew him said his loss leaves the Palm Beach community “diminished,” adding that he was “the rare type of individual who rose to the top of his game and left a lasting impact on everyone he met.”
Career & Philanthropy
Lenny served as a Vice President at Ralph Lauren, helping support his brother’s global fashion empire. Beyond business, he gave his time to philanthropic causes, sitting on boards including the National Humane Society and Columbia Presbyterian Hospital. Their partnership helped build one of the world’s most influential fashion houses, playing a key role in its early expansion.
Though he eventually stepped back from the business, the Lauren legacy carried on through his two daughters, who remain active with the brand today.
He divided his time between Palm Beach, Westchester, New York & the Hamptons, where he was known as a respected and generous presence.
Lenny leaves behind his daughters, Beth Lauren and her husband Michael Lengel, and Susan Faust and her husband Phillip Faust, as well as two grandchildren, Taylor and Brandon Faust, according to WWD.
He is also survived by his brothers, Ralph, 85, and Jerry, 90. His sister Thelma passed away earlier, and his wife, Rene, died in 2009.
On Instagram, philanthropist and author Jean Shafiroff remembered him as “a kind and caring man — and always a true gentleman.” She added, “Palm Beach will not be the same without Lenny Lauren.”
Born Lenny Lifshitz in 1932 in the Bronx, he later changed his surname to Lauren, following in the steps of his brothers.
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Fashion Icon Ralph Lauren’s Brother Leonard Lauren Passes Away at 93: Tributes Pour in