Leonard J. Casola, whose sales management career in the housewares industry spanned the past 26 years, died July 30 in his Philadelphia, Pa., home. He was 52.

A housewares industry veteran after spending a quarter of a century working for such notable manufacturers as EdgeCraft Corporation, Keystone Manufacturing and Wilton Industries, Len was a natural salesman who loved selling and excelled in his efforts.

He spent the last 15 years successfully managing the national sales efforts of EdgeCraft Corporation, manufacturers of the Chef'sChoice® brand of high-end housewares appliances such as knife sharpeners, electric food slicers, waffle makers and hot beverage products.

During his tenure with the Avondale, Pa.-based company, Len oversaw the national expansion of the company's electric and manual knife sharpeners, and was instrumental in the launch and growth of the Chef'sChoice electric food slicers, waffle makers and hot beverage products.

"His ebullient personality, innate talents and industry knowledge were very instrumental to our success in the marketplace. He forged relationships with retailers in the housewares, hardware and foodservices industries with his sincerity, loyalty and tenacity, and developed many friends in this business that will miss him greatly. We all deeply mourn his loss and will honor his life by sharing his commitment to the industry that he loved," says EdgeCraft president Sam Weiner.