Iconic Industry Retailer Dies at 93

Iconic Industry Retailer Dies at 93

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Olean, NY—Jack Blumenthal, known in Olean, New York, and the surrounding area as “Mr. Photography,” passed away peacefully in his home at age 93. With a lifelong vocation in photography, he was instrumental in the formation of local camera clubs and strongly supported the Niagara Frontier Regional Camera Club, which honored him with a lifetime achievement award in 2012.

Born July 1, 1919, in Manhattan, Blumenthal graduated from Long Island University and then served with the U.S. Army as a second lieutenant during World War II. After his military service, he moved to Olean, New York, where he and his father opened Blumenthal’s Sporting Goods. His two sons later joined him in the business. Blumenthal was one of the first retailers in the Olean area to offer photography equipment, photo processing, electronics, audio-visual supplies, computers and motorcycles.

But it was his passion for photography that will be remembered. “Some would say his unbridled exuberance showed most when instructing someone on how to operate a 35mm camera, load something called ‘film’ back in the day, or how to frame a compelling photograph,” wrote the Olean Times Herald.

A retail visionary who was always looking for the “next hot product,” in the late 1980s Blumenthal was named the No. 1 dealer on the East Coast for Apple computer sales and services.

Jack Blumenthal is survived by his wife of 45 years, Jennie; three children, Howard (Jodi) Blumenthal, Michael (Darlene Goetzman) Blumenthal and Amy (Julio) Alvarez-Perez, MD; and five grandchildren, Abigail, Aaron, Alex, Nando and Chris.

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