AutoWeek Publisher Emeritus Leon Mandel Dies

Special Report From AutoWeek:

Leon Mandel, publisher emeritus of AutoWeek magazine, died Tuesday March 5, 2002 at age 73. The cause of death is as yet unknown, but he had been battling leukemia and was found in his home.

Mandel joined Crain Communications Inc., which publishes AutoWeek, in 1983. He began as AutoWeek's editor and was publisher from 1988 until last November, when he was named publisher emeritus.

Mandel also worked in editorial positions at Car and Driver and Motor Trend. He wrote six books, including a history entitled American Cars that was an alternate selection of the Book of the Month Club, and a book with Danny Sullivan about a season in Can Am called Fast Lane Summer. In 1974, he co-wrote Speed with Style, an autobiography of racing driver Peter Revson.

In 2000, Mandel received an Automotive Hall of Fame distinguished service citation recognizing him for decades of support of auto enthusiasm.

Mandel was also once a car salesman at Kjell Qvale's San Francisco-based import dealerships.

Mandel's wife, Olivia, predeceased him. He is survived by his son Dutch, editor and associate publisher of AutoWeek; daughter Olivia; their spouses; and five grandchildren.

Funeral arrangements will be posted on the autoweek Web site when they are known.(See Below)

Editors Note:The Auto Channel had a long relationship with Leon...back in 1989 we worked together to bring AutoWeek News to TV.

The Auto Channel featured editorial from AW each week...to our knowledge this was the first time that Automotive News was broadcast on a timley basis.

Leon was a gentleman and a pillar of the automotive press community, it was a privilege to have known him...

Our condolences to Dutch and the rest of the Mandel family.

Rest-In-Peace Leon.

Official Crain Press Release

DETROIT, March 6 -- Leon Mandel III, Age 73, of Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich., died March 5 in his home following a long and courageous fight with leukemia. Mr. Mandel was publisher emeritus of AutoWeek magazine and a vice president of Crain Communications Inc.

With a passion for automobiles and an unparalleled reputation in the industry, he had been reporting and writing about the car world for over 40 years. Prior to being named publisher emeritus in November 2001, Mr. Mandel had been publisher of AutoWeek since 1988. He joined Crain Communications Inc. in 1983 as editor of the national car enthusiast title. He was named a vice president of the company in 1989. Mr. Mandel began his career at a weekly newspaper in northern California and was variously editor of Competition Press (AutoWeek's predecessor), senior editor at Motor Trend and managing editor of Car and Driver. In 2000, he received an Automotive Hall of Fame Distinguished Service Citation recognizing him for decades of support of auto enthusiasm.

Mr. Mandel is the author of six books including a one-volume history of the domestic car industry titled ``American Cars'' which was an alternate selection of the Book-of-the-Month Club. In his earlier years he sold cars for 15 years at a dealership under Kjell Qvale in San Francisco, Calif. Mr. Mandel was also managing editor of the AutoWeek television show on Speedvision.

Mr. Mandel is predeceased by his wife of 42 years, Olivia. He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Dutch and Rebecca of Grosse Pointe, Mich.; daughter and son-in-law, Olivia and Leo MacLeod of Portland, Ore.; and five grandchildren, Jacob, Matthew and Clayton Mandel and Alexander and Madeline MacLeod.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 9, 11 a.m. at the Detroit Athletic Club. Memorial tributes may be made to the VanElslander Cancer Center, c/o St. John's Health System Foundation, 22101 Mack Avenue, Suite 102, Detroit, MI 48236.