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Obituaries
Cleo H. Stephenson
Founder of New Era
Cleo H. Stephenson, founder of New Era
Cleaners in Tacoma, WA, died May 27. He was 92 years old
He started New Era Cleaners in 1930
and owned and managed it for 30 years until 1960 when he sold
the business to Jack Andersen, who still operates the
business today.
In 1960, he began a new venture known as
New Era Equipment Co., a distributor of drycleaning and
laundry equipment throughout the Northwest.
In 1986 health concerns forced his
retirement but he kept an active hand in the business until
1998 when the business was sold.
He took pride in the fact that he never
missed a convention and the opportunity to meet others in the
business and prided himself on the contacts he made and the
friendships he built with them.
Mr. Stephenson is survived by his son,
Norman, and his wife Deloris, his daughter, Janet and her
husband, LeRoy Hart; eight grandchildren, 15
great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren,
all who knew him as “Papa.”
Murray B. Dessel
Cofounder of Des-L Industries
Murray B. Dessel, cofounder of Des-L
Industries, died last month at Beth Israel Hospital Medical
Center in Newark, NJ,
He started as a drycleaner, founding the
Dessel Dry Cleaners in Irvington, NJ, in 1953, and later
opening a tuxedo rental shop and bridal shop.
In 1960 he cofounded Des-L Packaging,
which later became Des-L Industries. He was president and its
chief executive officer until his death. Des-L Industries sells
drycleaning packaging nationally and worldwide.
An Army veteran of World War II, he served
as a signal corp operator in the European theater and
participated in the Battle of the Bulge. He was also a talented
musician who played the clarinet and saxophone with the Army
band. After the war, he toured with the Glenn Miller Orchestra.
Mr. Dessel is survived by his wife,
Pauline, two daughters Cynthia and Lori, and a sister, Elaine
Tiss.
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