Rest in Peace Lenny....Owner of New Beginnings :-( - GoFuckYourself.com

WWC · 08-06-2007, 02:12 PM

Another sad day for us all to see a good friend to many and one who had played a big roll in the adult industry....Our prayers with you...rest in peace.

SYLMAR, Calif. - Lenny Friedlander, 50, owner of New Beginnings and former president of The Free Speech Coalition, passed away yesterday.

-advertisement-
Bryan Berber, New Beginnings vice-president, issued the following statement to AVN: "It is with great sadness and regret that I must tell you all of the passing of Lenny Friedlander, owner of New Beginnings. Lenny died August 5 at his home in Louisiana.

"Funeral arrangements are pending," Berber said. "We ask that out of respect for Lenny and his family, that everyone will take a moment and say a prayer for him. Thank you all for your consideration in this difficult time."

"It's been a complete shock to everyone here at New Beginnings, especially for myself and Brian Berber and Jim Nitz," said Lee Negri, who worked closely with Friedlander for 19 years. "It was very difficult for me to sleep last night knowing that he is gone. There's not that many people that don't know Lenny Friedlander ? he is a legend in this industry. He started this company back in 1985 and built it into what it is today, and being with him every step of the way, I can say that there's nobody else that is a more honorable person than Lenny. He always lived up to his word, regardless of what it was, and we don't seem to find people like that anymore. Even during the last several years that he was basically working out of his house and spending time with his family in New Orleans, he continued to fight for the industry; he fought 2257 by filing the case against the government, and he was one of the founding members of the Free Speech Coalition. So with all that in mind, we're all going to miss a really incredible person. We're all extremely heartbroken and sad here."

Friedlander began his career in the adult industry in 1978 working for Lanny Cohen at Marlan Distributors and went on to become the company's head of sales.

"I'm very sorry to hear this news," Cohen said. "Lenny had worked for me at the beginning. He was doing collections ? and then he took over sales after our salesman George [Bates] died of AIDS. Lenny was a young man, so I'm shocked to hear of his passing."

"I've known Lenny since he started in the business, and he was really one of the modern day founders of the industry," said Ron Braverman of Doc Johnson. "He was always a supporter of the industry, and he was always in the forefront of every issue involving the adult business. I was very, very, very close with him, I have tremendous respect for him; his passing is going to be not only a tremendous personal loss, but it's also going to be a loss for the industry as a whole."

Vivid Entertainment co-founder Steven Hirsch called Friedlander "a pioneer" and "one of the truly great guys in the business."

"I've known Lenny since the minute I got into the business; well over 20 years," Hirsch said. "And he really was one of the great guys ? you could always call, he would always do you a favor, and he would go the extra mile, even though he didn't have to. When I first met him, he was head of sales for Marlan ? he was always there to help push product. When he started New Beginnings, he called me and asked for my support, and of course we were there for him. This is a tremendous loss, and we will all miss him very much."

Christian Mann of Metro Interactive told AVN, "I first met Lenny in 1979 or 1980 when he was at Marlan Distributors and I was working in my dad's warehouse at Flamingo Press. Lenny was the first guy in the business to invite me to dinner and make me feel like a part of the industry. Even then, he was a big personality with a ball-busting but good natured sense of humor. I spent many hours at his house while he struggled with uncertainty about going on his own and opening New Beginnings. We remained friends throughout all the years and the many business incarnations that followed. I'll remember Lenny as loud, boisterous, funny and genuine. My thoughts are with his family."

Attorney Jeffrey Douglas spoke of Friedlander's dedication to the adult industry and his enormous influence on many friends and colleagues.

"The loss is just incalculable," Douglas told AVN. "Lenny is irreplaceable in every capacity; as a leader of the industry, as a groundbreaking entrepreneur, but most deeply as a friend. I've never known anyone like him. The size of his heart, his extraordinary mind and his ability to inspire are unique. His dedication to the industry and therefore to the Free Speech Coalition was without limitations. He was the most dedicated fundraiser; he understood the importance of the industry uniting, and he made enormous personal sacrifices to keep FSC going, to marshal support... FSC could not be where it is today but for him. He was president for many years and he recruited and inspired scores and scores of people to be involved and support ? essentially, he was personally responsible for the financial health of the organization for many, many years."

"Amongst a lot of great memories I have were the times spent on the Free Speech Coalition board with Lenny," said AVN President Paul Fishbein. "Especially the crazy calls late at night at home, when Lenny would come upon a new idea about fighting government suppression. A lot of people don't know what a great president of Free Speech he was, and how he really donated most of his business time raising money and awareness."

Many of Friedlander's colleagues were stunned and shaken by the news of his death.

"Lenny was one of my best friends in and out of the business," said veteran adult video salesman Howard Levine. "I am shocked. I loved Lenny - he was always the best. He would do anything for you. He was one of my customers at New Beginnings, and we always hung out. I am going to miss Lenny a lot."

"Lenny was such a great guy whom I adored and way too young to have left us," said Gloria Leonard. "I loved that when I went to his home when he still lived in LA, he had several pictures of his Mom placed throughout the house. This is a very sad day, indeed."

Friedlander is survived by his wife, son and two daughters.

tranza · 08-06-2007, 02:30 PM

That's sad news.

RIP Lenny.

seeric · 08-06-2007, 02:36 PM

yah, just heard that. crazy.

Humpy Leftnut · 08-06-2007, 02:36 PM

RIP mang, thanks for fighting for us

sextoyking · 08-06-2007, 02:37 PM

My thoughts and prayers go out to Lenny and his family. A good man and company.

We have done business with them for many yrs....

pornguy · 08-06-2007, 02:40 PM

Dont have time to read all that, but how did he Die???

And I feel really bad for the family and friends. It is never easy.

Sarah_Jayne · 08-06-2007, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pornguy

Dont have time to read all that, but how did he Die???

And I feel really bad for the family and friends. It is never easy.

Might be nice to take the time to read. An easy way to give some respect.

My thoughts go out to his family.

WWC · 08-07-2007, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sextoyking

My thoughts and prayers go out to Lenny and his family. A good man and company.

We have done business with them for many yrs....

Yes, he was a good person from what i have heard....i didnt know him personally but seemed like a real nice guy.... life is too short...

Red Ezra · 08-07-2007, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WWC-Raffi

Yes, he was a good person from what i have heard....i didnt know him personally but seemed like a real nice guy.... life is too short...

Life is too short - we were discussing this on set today when we were thinking about passed friends - sad news - my condolences to his family and friends

Snake Doctor · 08-07-2007, 05:40 PM

WHEW.

You didn't put a last name in the thread title and at first I thought I was having one of those twilight zone moments reading my own obituary.

Sorry to hear he passed away, 50 is way too young.

drx · 08-07-2007, 05:48 PM

R.I.P man

Spunky · 08-07-2007, 05:49 PM

At only 50..very sad..RIP Lenny

Just_Dave · 08-07-2007, 05:52 PM

RIP Lenny i have never met him but heard good things about him , i use to do good biz with New Beginnings

Vitasoy · 08-07-2007, 10:17 PM

May he rest in peace

WWC · 08-07-2007, 10:28 PM

NEW ORLEANS - Adult industry pioneer Lenny Friedlander will be laid to rest at Greenwood Cemetery on Wednesday, August 8.

Funeral services will be held at the Greenwood Funeral Home (5200 Canal Blvd., New Orleans, LA) at 3 PM.

Interment will be private. Visitation will begin at 1 PM.

08-06-2007, 02:12 PM	#1
WWC #1 Adult Content Provider Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Glendale, Ca Posts: 11,577	Rest in Peace Lenny....Owner of New Beginnings :-( Another sad day for us all to see a good friend to many and one who had played a big roll in the adult industry....Our prayers with you...rest in peace. SYLMAR, Calif. - Lenny Friedlander, 50, owner of New Beginnings and former president of The Free Speech Coalition, passed away yesterday. -advertisement- Bryan Berber, New Beginnings vice-president, issued the following statement to AVN: "It is with great sadness and regret that I must tell you all of the passing of Lenny Friedlander, owner of New Beginnings. Lenny died August 5 at his home in Louisiana. "Funeral arrangements are pending," Berber said. "We ask that out of respect for Lenny and his family, that everyone will take a moment and say a prayer for him. Thank you all for your consideration in this difficult time." "It's been a complete shock to everyone here at New Beginnings, especially for myself and Brian Berber and Jim Nitz," said Lee Negri, who worked closely with Friedlander for 19 years. "It was very difficult for me to sleep last night knowing that he is gone. There's not that many people that don't know Lenny Friedlander ? he is a legend in this industry. He started this company back in 1985 and built it into what it is today, and being with him every step of the way, I can say that there's nobody else that is a more honorable person than Lenny. He always lived up to his word, regardless of what it was, and we don't seem to find people like that anymore. Even during the last several years that he was basically working out of his house and spending time with his family in New Orleans, he continued to fight for the industry; he fought 2257 by filing the case against the government, and he was one of the founding members of the Free Speech Coalition. So with all that in mind, we're all going to miss a really incredible person. We're all extremely heartbroken and sad here." Friedlander began his career in the adult industry in 1978 working for Lanny Cohen at Marlan Distributors and went on to become the company's head of sales. "I'm very sorry to hear this news," Cohen said. "Lenny had worked for me at the beginning. He was doing collections ? and then he took over sales after our salesman George [Bates] died of AIDS. Lenny was a young man, so I'm shocked to hear of his passing." "I've known Lenny since he started in the business, and he was really one of the modern day founders of the industry," said Ron Braverman of Doc Johnson. "He was always a supporter of the industry, and he was always in the forefront of every issue involving the adult business. I was very, very, very close with him, I have tremendous respect for him; his passing is going to be not only a tremendous personal loss, but it's also going to be a loss for the industry as a whole." Vivid Entertainment co-founder Steven Hirsch called Friedlander "a pioneer" and "one of the truly great guys in the business." "I've known Lenny since the minute I got into the business; well over 20 years," Hirsch said. "And he really was one of the great guys ? you could always call, he would always do you a favor, and he would go the extra mile, even though he didn't have to. When I first met him, he was head of sales for Marlan ? he was always there to help push product. When he started New Beginnings, he called me and asked for my support, and of course we were there for him. This is a tremendous loss, and we will all miss him very much." Christian Mann of Metro Interactive told AVN, "I first met Lenny in 1979 or 1980 when he was at Marlan Distributors and I was working in my dad's warehouse at Flamingo Press. Lenny was the first guy in the business to invite me to dinner and make me feel like a part of the industry. Even then, he was a big personality with a ball-busting but good natured sense of humor. I spent many hours at his house while he struggled with uncertainty about going on his own and opening New Beginnings. We remained friends throughout all the years and the many business incarnations that followed. I'll remember Lenny as loud, boisterous, funny and genuine. My thoughts are with his family." Attorney Jeffrey Douglas spoke of Friedlander's dedication to the adult industry and his enormous influence on many friends and colleagues. "The loss is just incalculable," Douglas told AVN. "Lenny is irreplaceable in every capacity; as a leader of the industry, as a groundbreaking entrepreneur, but most deeply as a friend. I've never known anyone like him. The size of his heart, his extraordinary mind and his ability to inspire are unique. His dedication to the industry and therefore to the Free Speech Coalition was without limitations. He was the most dedicated fundraiser; he understood the importance of the industry uniting, and he made enormous personal sacrifices to keep FSC going, to marshal support... FSC could not be where it is today but for him. He was president for many years and he recruited and inspired scores and scores of people to be involved and support ? essentially, he was personally responsible for the financial health of the organization for many, many years." "Amongst a lot of great memories I have were the times spent on the Free Speech Coalition board with Lenny," said AVN President Paul Fishbein. "Especially the crazy calls late at night at home, when Lenny would come upon a new idea about fighting government suppression. A lot of people don't know what a great president of Free Speech he was, and how he really donated most of his business time raising money and awareness." Many of Friedlander's colleagues were stunned and shaken by the news of his death. "Lenny was one of my best friends in and out of the business," said veteran adult video salesman Howard Levine. "I am shocked. I loved Lenny - he was always the best. He would do anything for you. He was one of my customers at New Beginnings, and we always hung out. I am going to miss Lenny a lot." "Lenny was such a great guy whom I adored and way too young to have left us," said Gloria Leonard. "I loved that when I went to his home when he still lived in LA, he had several pictures of his Mom placed throughout the house. This is a very sad day, indeed." Friedlander is survived by his wife, son and two daughters. __________________ [email protected] ICQ : 494-353-230 Follow WWC on Twitter CLICK HERE! " CONTENT PROVIDER OF THE YEAR! " ~ 2007 , 2008 & 2009 XBIZ AWARDS WINNER! .......www.WorldWideContent.com / www.WorldWideFeeds.com...... WWC Nominated " Content Licensor of The Year " 2010 XBiz Awards !!!

08-06-2007, 02:30 PM	#2
tranza ICQ: 197-556-237 Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: BRASIL !!! Posts: 57,559	That's sad news. RIP Lenny. __________________ I'm just a newbie.

08-06-2007, 02:36 PM	#4
Humpy Leftnut Confirmed User Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 1,292	RIP mang, thanks for fighting for us __________________ Humpy Leftnut - Pornsumer Reviews

08-06-2007, 02:37 PM	#5
sextoyking Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Portland, OR. Posts: 6,034	My thoughts and prayers go out to Lenny and his family. A good man and company. We have done business with them for many yrs.... __________________ ICQ: 52344098 -------------------------------------- 50% Commissions on all Product Sales. http://www.wishing.com/money

08-06-2007, 02:40 PM	#6
pornguy Too lazy to set a custom title Industry Role: Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Homeless Posts: 62,911	Dont have time to read all that, but how did he Die??? And I feel really bad for the family and friends. It is never easy. __________________ PornGuy skype me pornguy_epic AmateurDough The Hottes Shemales online! TChicks.com \| Angeles Cid \| Mariana Cordoba \| MAILERS WELCOME!

08-06-2007, 02:36 PM	#3
seeric .......... Industry Role: Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: .......... Posts: 41,917	yah, just heard that. crazy.

08-07-2007, 05:40 PM	#10
Snake Doctor I'm Lenny2 Bitch Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: On top of my soapbox Posts: 13,449	WHEW. You didn't put a last name in the thread title and at first I thought I was having one of those twilight zone moments reading my own obituary. Sorry to hear he passed away, 50 is way too young.

08-07-2007, 05:48 PM	#11
drx Confirmed User Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 416	R.I.P man __________________ http://www.hentaisexonline.com Hentai Sex Online http://www.hentaisexonline.com/LinkEX/

08-07-2007, 05:49 PM	#12
Spunky I need a beer Industry Role: Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: ♠ Toiletville ♠ Posts: 133,949	At only 50..very sad..RIP Lenny __________________ *YOUR INFORMATION HERE*

08-07-2007, 05:52 PM	#13
Just_Dave Its almost time Industry Role: Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 13,009	RIP Lenny i have never met him but heard good things about him , i use to do good biz with New Beginnings

08-07-2007, 10:17 PM	#14
Vitasoy GFY HALL OF FAME DAMMIT!!! Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 58,202	May he rest in peace __________________ [email protected]

08-07-2007, 10:28 PM	#15
WWC #1 Adult Content Provider Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Glendale, Ca Posts: 11,577	NEW ORLEANS - Adult industry pioneer Lenny Friedlander will be laid to rest at Greenwood Cemetery on Wednesday, August 8. Funeral services will be held at the Greenwood Funeral Home (5200 Canal Blvd., New Orleans, LA) at 3 PM. Interment will be private. Visitation will begin at 1 PM. __________________ [email protected] ICQ : 494-353-230 Follow WWC on Twitter CLICK HERE! " CONTENT PROVIDER OF THE YEAR! " ~ 2007 , 2008 & 2009 XBIZ AWARDS WINNER! .......www.WorldWideContent.com / www.WorldWideFeeds.com...... WWC Nominated " Content Licensor of The Year " 2010 XBiz Awards !!!