Obituary of Herbert Kamlet

Herbert L. Kamlet, native Denverite, passed away on Tuesday, November 25th in Pittsburgh, PA after a long illness. Herb Kamlet was born in Denver on May 24, 1929, the son of John and Bertha Kamlet. He attended Cheltenham, Lake Junior, and North High Schools in Denver. He attended the University of Colorado, graduating with a dual degree in editorial journalism and advertising. It was in college that Herb Kamlet met Denverite Ilene Kamlet (nee Permut) and they married on August 27, 1950 while both were still students. Rabbi Manuel Laderman performed the service at the original Hebrew Educational Alliance, the same place Herb had his Bar Mitzvah and where John Kamlet was president. In college, Herb was sports editor of the university daily newspaper, The Silver and Gold. His daily column Pressbox Parade was reprinted or quoted in the Boulder Daily Camera, Denver Post, and Rocky Mountain News. He was a member of Sigma Delta Chi, professional advertising fraternity; Kappa Tau Alpha, journalistic scholarship fraternity, and Phi Sigma Delta, social fraternity. Following college, Herb and Ilene returned to Denver where Herb established himself as journalist and writer, his main love, and also a successful business executive. In 1951 he went to work for Ben Bezoff PR and Advertising, writing press releases and radio commercials. While there he also covered Lakeside Amusement Park, and wrote promo articles of the bands and orchestra during the big band era. In the mid-1950''s he joined his father John, brother Stanley, and uncle Sam Kamlet in founding the Kamlet''s New Fashion Cleaners, which became a well-known and successful city-wide chain. While at New Fashion, Herb succeeded his father, John, as president. During this period Herb won ten national and international AIL and IFI advertising awards. He also served as president of the Denver Drycleaner Laundry Association, and President of the Varsity International Conference of Cleaners. Later he served as Executive Vice President of Silver State Laundry and Cleaners. In 1980 Herb established his own marketing, advertising, and public relations firm. He retired in 1987 due to continued poor health. Herb and Ilene had three children, Mark, Richard, and Pamela. Ilene went back to college after the children were born and received her bachelors and masters degree in Library Science. She worked for many years at the Denver Public Libraries. Ilene passed away on December 16, 1993. Herb moved to Pittsburgh in June 1994 it be closer to his son Mark, daughter Pam, and their families. His third son, Richard, lives in Valencia, California and would visit regularly. Herb was a member of Columbine Lodge #147 and B''nai Brith. He was a member of Congregation Temple Emanuel. Everyone he met in his twenty years in Pittsburgh went out of their way to remark that he was sweet, unfailingly polite, and never missed an opportunity to refer to Colorado and the Rocky Mountains as "God''s country." Herbert Kamlet was pre-deceased by his granddaughter Andrea and he is survived by his 3 children, Mark (Charlee Mae), Richard (Mary), and Pam (Joel); his brother Stanley (Louan), 6 grandchildren (Sarah, Matthew, Gillian, Ally, Becca, and Zack) and 1 great-grandson, Logan. Service, Sunday, 11:00am, Feldman Mortuary Chapel, Interment, Emanuel Cemetery. Contributions to Charles Morris Nursing and Rehabilitation Center / Sivitz Hospice, 200 JHF Drive Pittsburgh PA 15217 or Colorado University School of Journalism.