Irving Louis Uttal, 82; Active in B’nai B’rith

Irving Louis Uttal, a Pacific Palisades resident since 1949, passed away peacefully on February 22 in Santa Monica. He was 82. Uttal was born on December 13, 1922 in Albany, New York, to Fannie and Harry Uttal. He distinguished himself early in his youth as a local checkers champion in the Albany area. During World War II, he served as a co-pilot in U.S. Air Force 390th Bombardier Group, flying 35 missions over Europe. After the war, he remained active in the reserves and retired as a lieutenant colonel. Uttal graduated from Boston University with a B.A. in business administration, and in 1946 moved to Los Angeles. Within a year he founded Heirloom Carpets in partnership with his brother Joseph and Leo Ricard. In 1959, Uttal sold the business and joined Olivetti-Underwood as a business machine salesman. He spent the remaining 20 years of his career as a lead computer salesperson for MAI Basic Four. Upon retirement, Uttal founded ROI Computrux, a value-added reseller focused on accounting systems for trucking companies. Uttal married Lois Horwitz in August 1949 and they settled in Pacific Palisades, where they raised four children. An artist, writer, humorist and successful computer salesman, Irving was considered by his friends and family a Renaissance man. Fond of a good joke, Irv often brightened the room with his irrepressible wit and frequent puns. During the wartime years he contributed humorous stories to the Saturday Evening Post. After his retirement, he continued writing, focusing on U.S. military policies during World War II. Irving was active in the 390th Bombardier Group and the B’nai B’rith, where he and his wife, Lois, were honored with the Akiba Award in 2001. Irving enjoyed the outdoors; on weekends he liked sailing, bicycling, and hiking, or visiting the cliffs overlooking the ocean. He and Lois were familiar faces in the community, and were often seen on their frequent walks to the village. In addition to his wife of 55 years, he is survived by his children, Debra Uttal Leifer of Pacific Palisades; Judith Uttal of Irvine; Nancy Dolin of Van Nuys; David Uttal of Pacific Palisades; and grandchildren Janel, Karin, Joshua and Joseph. Memorial services were held at the Hillside Memorial Park and Mortuary in Los Angeles. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the 390th Memorial Museum Foundation in Tucson, Arizona, or the Marina Ketubah chapter of the B’nai B’rith.