Jack Amsterdam, former chairman of the board of the Leviton Manufacturing Co. Inc., died Jan. 23. He was 92 years old. In 1933, he married Mimi Leviton, daughter of Isidor Leviton, the company's founder. That same year, he went to work for the firm and started his career in its sales department. In 1940, he became vice president of sales. He was appointed executive vice president in 1965, and elected chairman of the board in 1972. His career with Leviton spanned six-and-a-half decades. For this entire time, he was actively involved in managing company affairs and was at work in his office until the day before his death. Along with his father-in-law, Isidor, and his brothers-in-law Harold and Bernard, he was responsible for developing the scope of the Leviton line. Along with the Levitons, he was instrumental in helping the company grow by acquisition. He is survived by his sister, Jean Ross, his daughter, Dasha Epstein; and his two grandchildren.
John Fleming, CEO and chairman of Cascade Controls and Electric Supply, Seattle, Wash., died Jan. 25. He was 55 years old. Fleming co-founded Cascade Controls in 1981, served as president from 1994 to 1997 and became CEO in December 1997. Fleming worked for 31 years in advanced communications and electronics, including 15 years in international sales, marketing and distribution of instrument and control systems. He was a former board member of the Association for High Technology Distribution (AHTD), Philadelphia, Pa., and was a vocal advocate for the intelligent use of high-tech business practices in distribution. He is survived by his wife, Marcia; four children, Michelle, Cereghino, Roxanna Drexler, Lynette Strode and John F. Fleming; and five grandchildren.