Leonard Norman Eselson

In loving memory of Len Eselson of Raleigh NC.

Len was born in NYC to Russian Jewish immigrants Norman and Frieda Eselson. He was raised in Queens NY. He was an accomplished clarinet player, studying seriously in high school and college with Leon Russianoff, Principal Clarinet in the New York Philharmonic. Len graduated from Queens College with a major in mathematics, where he met and married his first wife.

After college he served stateside during the Korean War, working in Chemical Engineering. He then got a job with Sperry Rand, working with one of the first computers, before being hired by IBM, where he worked for many decades, first in White Plains, then Poughkeepsie, Kingston, and Raleigh. He managed the computing center in Poughkeepsie, and helped develop the first color screen; he worked closely with IBM Japan to develop a Kanji keyboard.

Len was an avid sailor, passionate baseball fan, and a highly accomplished amateur photographer. He enjoyed classical music, and after retirement volunteered at the local public radio station.

He was predeceased by his sister Barbara Levoy. He is survived by his wife, Marian Eselson (Potamkin).

A loving father, he is also survived by his two daughters, Lauren Eselson (Jack Wilson) and Karen Eselson Belding (Mark Belding) and his beloved grandchildren Rachel and Hannah Wilson , and Sam Belding. In addition he is survived by his many close friends.

Donations in his memory can be made to Transitions Hospice. Information on how to donate can be found by clicking on the link below under "donations"

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared for the Eselson family by clicking "add a memory" below.