L. James “Jim” Leyton, 89, longtime businessman, a 22-year member and integral part of the Mad River Valley, passed away unexpectedly at Central Vermont Medical Center in Berlin on Thursday, February 11, 2016. Born in Leipzig, Germany, on April 25, 1926, he was the son of the late John and Rosa (Steinberg) Leyton. On January 8, 1977, he married the former Jackie Saraniero in New York City.
Jim grew up in Germany and at the age of 9 he and his family secretly left their homeland under Hitler’s regime to start a new life in London. During the six years Britain was engaged in WWII, London was a primary target for enemy bombing. Jim, a 15-year-old, immigrated by himself to New York City to live with his aunt and uncle, Fanny and Gregory Felton.
Jim was a 1944 graduate of Townsend Harris High School in NYC and then enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving during WWII in the Pacific Theater of Operations. Upon his discharge, he continued his education, graduating from Columbia University with his degree in business administration. What followed next was a 50-year vocation in the business forms industry, first starting with the Burroughs-Todd Hadley Co. and then in 1959 he founded Eastern Systems, specializing in all facets of business forms, stationary, checks, supplies and much more. Moving to the Mad River Valley in 1994, he and his wife Jackie have continued Eastern Systems to the present day where Jim was currently serving as board chairman.
Active in a variety of organizations throughout the years, Jim’s memberships included the Vermont Consultants Network, the Mad River Valley Rotary Club where he was a Paul Harris Fellow, was a board member and foundation chair of Rotary District 7850, was a member and chair of the membership committee for the Mad River Valley Chamber of Commerce and was a trustee and secretary for the Vermont Symphony Orchestra.
A lifelong and proud member of the Democratic Party, Jim served as a member of the Washington County and Waitsfield Democratic Committees. He also served the town of Waitsfield as an auditor and justice of the peace. In his leisure time, Jim was an avid tennis player.
Jim is loved and mourned by his wife of 39 years, Jackie Leyton of Waitsfield; his sons, Bruce Leyton and his wife Joan of Roswell, Georgia, and Scott Leyton and his wife Erin of NYC; five grandchildren, Jessica Johnson, Elizabeth McMullen, Alison Mercer, Isabella Leyton and Miles Leyton; great-grandson, Connor Johnson; his brother, Harry Harel and his wife Tamar of Israel; as well as nieces, nephews and extended family. Jim was preceded in death by a daughter, Toni Leyton, and a stepdaughter, Desiree Yovnello.
Family and friends are invited to celebrate the life of L. James Leyton on Sunday, February 28, 2016, at 1 p.m. at the Round Barn Farm, 1661 East Warren Road, Waitsfield, with a reception to follow. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial gifts would be appreciated to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Association (www.lls.org). Assisting the family is Perkins-Parker Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Waterbury. To send online condolences please visit www.perkinsparker.com.
